The Freshest Leaf in Town
by Colin W.
Legacy Farms Apprentice
Throughout my time writing for The Green Thumb, I’ve covered vegetables for almost every single issue. The only time I haven’t written about a veggie that Legacy Farms is growing is for The Green Thumb’s second issue, which was on pest control. I think it’s about time we mix it up today by diving into the world of herbs. To do this, I’ll be examining an herb that I believe everyone can recognize. Let’s take a look at the freshest leaf on the chopping block: mint!
Just your average patch of mint….nothing to see here!
Mentha or mint, is a genus of plants that reside within the Lamiaceae family along with deadnettle and sage. There are about 24 different types of mint leaves such as peppermint, spearmint, cornmint, and apple mint just to name a few. At Legacy Farms, we grow mint julep, pineapple mint, orange mint, and mint mojito--all variations of spearmint, some combined with other flavors.
One of the most common applications of mint is to treat bad breath by chewing on freshly picked or dried mint leaves. The reason mint can do this is because of its chlorophyll, which drowns out any other smell in your mouth. This is why we have things like breath mints, mint chewing gum, and breath strips. Mint is also very common in tea. It's used in ice cream, and it goes well with dark chocolate. It should be noted that this benefit can be found in other herbs like parsley, basil, and cilantro. So why is mint well known for curing bad breath while these herbs aren’t? Well, it’s because mint makes everything smell, taste, and feel fresh!
The Cucumber Mint Cooler, also known as the Green Guzzle
Treating bad breath isn’t the only thing mint is good for. It has many other uses as well. Mint contains an oil known as menthol which can relieve indigestion, as well as soothe an upset stomach. One of the more common uses of mint is in dental products such as toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash. Also, mint can aid in weight loss! Mint aids digestive enzymes, which can help you digest nutrients more effectively. Mint can even improve your cognitive abilities, according to various scientific studies.
Our apprentice adding mint during the video demo.
Recently, we collaborated with Roots to Rise to produce a two-minute video about a new recipe of ours, the Cucumber Mint Cooler. The Cucumber Mint Cooler’s recipe was made by one of our apprentices and a member of Roots to Rise. I call it the “Green Guzzle.” I ended up trying the Green Guzzle for myself, and it was pretty good! It tasted like Sprite and mint, which was strange at first but I got used to it.
If you want to try the Cucumber Mint Cooler (aka Green Guzzle) for yourself, check out this video!
Sources:
https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/09/17/does-peppermint-make-you-smarter/