Mentha spicata Yakima

The Yakima Chewing Gum Mint, in Latin Mentha spicata, is a variety of peppermint that surprises with the intense aroma of its green mint foliage. This hardy and perennial herbaceous plant can be grown in the ground, where it can be invasive, or in a pot where it will be easier to control. Its crinkled leaves, of a bright green color, are best consumed fresh as they lose some of their fragrance when dried. They will flavor tea in particular, but also all your refreshing drinks, accompany your raw vegetables, tabbouleh, grilled dishes, sauces, desserts, or infusions. Mint is also a honey plant, very popular with bees in summer. It is planted in spring or autumn in any medium fresh garden soil for harvesting from March to October.

The Green Mint is an aromatic bushy plant with highly fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm and sage. Plant it preferably in a semi-shaded spot, although Mint can grow almost anywhere. It is a perennial plant that will be cultivated for two or three years as beyond that, it tends to become less productive. Choose carefully where you want to plant it: Green Mint spreads very quickly thanks to its trailing roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its spread. In the vegetable garden, Mint is known to repel unwanted garden insects 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 Green Mint, Peppermint, Pennyroyal, and Lemon Mint. Depending on the varieties, the leaves will offer a whole range of aromas. In cooking, use them from appetizers to desserts, to flavor salads and raw vegetables, summer grills, yogurt-based sauces, or fruits. The leaves are also delicious in infusions, in tea or hot chocolate.

Harvest: Harvest the leaves as you need them. Choose the largest leaves and cut the entire stem to encourage regrowth. Preferably harvest in the morning to make the most of the mint's aromatic qualities. If you want to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: Ideally, consume the freshly cut leaves. If you do not use the fresh leaves, dry the stems and then store the leaves in a tightly closed jar, away from light.

Gardener's tip: If you want to grow 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.