Mentha arvensis Thai - Thai mint

Mentha arvensis 'Thai' is a cultivar of field mint rarely for sale. Its spicy and particularly mentholated leaves also develop a flavour of caraway. They can be used for all the usual purposes of mint but are ideal in Thai cuisine to add an interesting flavour to salads, curries, soups and stews. In Thailand, it is known as Bae Saranae and widely used in cooking. This herbaceous, hardy, perennial plant can be grown in the ground or in a pot. It will reach 40 to 60cm in height. Its leaves are also delicious in infusion. Plant in spring or autumn to harvest from March to October.

Mint is an aromatic, bushy plant with highly fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm. Preferably plant it in a partially shaded spot, although mint can grow almost anywhere. It is a perennial plant that should be kept for two or three years; after that, it tends to become exhausted and less productive. Choose the planting location carefully as mint spreads very quickly, thanks to its running roots. You can also grow it in a pot, allowing you to control its spread. It is ideal for the vegetable garden as mint is reputed to repel undesirable garden insects, such as aphids and ants, as well as some rodents. You can harvest the leaves throughout the year, mainly from March to October.

There are many varieties of mint, the most well-known being spearmint, peppermint, pennyroyal and lemon mint. Depending on the variety, the leaves offer a whole palette of fragrances. In cooking, use them from starter to dessert, to flavour salads and raw vegetables, summer barbecues, yoghurt-based sauces or fruit. The leaves are also delicious in infusion, in tea or hot chocolate.

Harvest: Harvest the leaves as needed. Choose the largest leaves and cut the entire stem to encourage regrowth. Preferably harvest in the morning to best enjoy the aromatic qualities of the mint. If you wish to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: It is best to consume the leaves freshly cut. If you do not use the fresh leaves, dry the stems and then store the leaves in an airtight jar away from light.

Gardener's tip: If you wish to plant mint in the vegetable garden while limiting its spread, plant it in a pot and bury the pot in the middle of your garden! Choose a fairly large pot and regularly divide the clumps in autumn or spring.