Cool and Refreshing Mint Teas
Are you on the lookout for a cool and crisp mint tea? Are you a purist or do you like a delicious chocolate mint infusion, maybe you just like all things mint or maybe you just love the health benefits. Whichever category you fit into, we’ve got a tea for you, but first, let’s talk about what mint is, where it comes from, and why we drink it.
What is Mint?
Mint is an herb produced by various species of the Mentha family of plants. Mint has been used by Mediterranean people since roughly 300 BCE. It is very aromatic and its name comes from ancient Greek Mythology. As the story goes, Mint is named after a Naiad nymph from the underworld known as Minthe. Pluto, the God of the underworld, loved her and soon she became his mistress. As you could imagine, this didn’t make his wife Persephone too happy. So, in a jealous rage, she turned the nymph mistress into what we know today as the mint plant.
Cool story, but it still doesn’t explain a whole lot about what mint is. As we said earlier, mint comes from the Mentha family of plants and the two most popular variations are Peppermint and Spearmint. The taste of these two varieties is quite sweet and it creates a cooling effect on the tongue that tends to linger. This sensation comes from menthol, a compound found in the plant.
Peppermint contains a bit more menthol and therefore, it is the more powerful of the two. Fresh leaves have a stronger aroma and flavor while drying the leaves reduces their strength. Peppermint is pretty much the go-to leaf for mint tea. Spearmint, on the other hand, is going to be sweeter and less robust, but it also finds its way into tea as well. To be honest, they’re both good.
So, Why Mint in Tea?
Great questions. As you know, tea is an amazing way to get healthy ingredients into your system quickly and it does make for a super delicious beverage as well. Don’t you worry, there are great benefits other than it just tasting great. As you may have noticed, mint has made its way into chewing gum, breath mints, mouthwash, and toothpaste, all things we generally reach for when wanting to freshen our breath. Mint is actually helping with all of that. So, that’s cool, but that is just one small benefit. Here are others…
- Peppermint Helps Sooth Digestion
- May also Ease IBS Symptoms
- Peppermint has compounds that are said to have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties
- Peppermint can Boost your Immune System
- Can Act as a Natural Pain Relief
All of these benefits are a boost to its already great flavor. If you need a little boost in health and love the taste of mint, then check out these mint teas below.
Citrus Mint Green Tea
This cool and refreshing citrus and mint infusion combines the earthy, grassiness of sencha with the zesty zing of lemongrass and lemon verbena. Sprinkle in some spearmint and you get a sweet, awakening blend meant for perking up your morning or enlivening your afternoon.
Chamomile Lemon Mint Herbal Tea
This tea dresses up the classic chamomile in an exciting and vivacious way. With large, yellow blossoms of chamomile, the citrus flavor of lemongrass, as well as the subtle creaminess of vanilla bean and coconut, you get to experience the calm, relaxing characteristics of the tea with subtle minty notes that excite.
Peppermint Herbal Tea
This single-ingredient tea is anything but simple. Bursting with cooling flavors of sweet peppermint, it is both invigorating and irresistibly delicious. Its pure, clean taste lingers on the palate and its freshness engages the senses all while providing a soothing, calming comfort to your health.
White Thunder White Tea
This takes the softness of Bai Mu Dan and gives it a bit of a kick by combining spearmint and peppermint together creating a paradoxical tea that’s both exhilarating and calming all at the same time. Its notes of floral flavor are complimented by the clean, sweet, refreshing taste of mint.
Roasted Cocoa Mint
Like a delicious chocolate mint truffle, this chocolatey, mint yerba mate does not disappoint. With the aroma of dark chocolate along with the scent of spearmint, this brew ignites the senses before you take your first sip. The earthiness of the yerba mate, the nuttiness of rooibos, and the sweetness of honeybush come together in a delightfully robust chocolate, mint kind of way.
Chocolate Mint Rooibos
This one is for chocolate lovers. It’s like a decadent dessert with a mint-chocolate chip kind of vibe. The nutty flavors of rooibos with the chocolate flavors of cocoa beans and the sweet smoothness of vanilla, you really can’t go wrong here. Add a splash of milk and a bit of sugar for an evening treat that won’t keep you up and regretting.