Mentha piperita Réglisse

The Liquorice Mint is a variety of peppermint whose dark-coloured leaves emit a fragrance with notes of liquorice. This hardy, perennial herbaceous plant can be grown in the ground or in a pot. It will reach a height of 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24in). Its leaves can be used to flavour desserts and are also delicious in infusions, teas, or hot chocolate. Plant in spring or autumn, harvest from March to October.

Mint is an aromatic bushy plant with highly fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm. It is best to plant it in a semi-shaded location, although Mint can grow almost anywhere. It is a perennial plant that will be cultivated for two or three years as it tends to exhaust itself and become less productive afterwards. Choose the planting location carefully: Mint spreads rapidly thanks to its trailing roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its spread. It is ideal to plant in the vegetable garden as Mint is known to repel unwanted insects from the garden, such as aphids and ants, as well as certain rodents. As for leaf harvesting, it can be done 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 will offer you a whole range of fragrances. In cooking, use them from appetisers to desserts, to flavour salads and raw vegetables, summer grills, yogurt-based sauces, or fruits. The leaves are also delicious in infusions, teas, 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 enjoy the mint's aromatic qualities to the fullest. If you want to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: It is best to consume freshly cut leaves. If you are not using fresh leaves, dry the stems and store the leaves in a tightly closed jar, away from light.

Handy gardening tip: If you want 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 large enough pot and divide the clumps regularly, in autumn or spring.