Mint vs Peppermint
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up vote
33
down vote
favorite
Are mint and peppermint the same thing?
Can we substitute one for the other.
How can we differentiate between mint and peppermint?
substitutions mint
edited Nov 15 at 10:42
mcalex
36238
asked Nov 14 at 17:16
Iqra Amanat
37538
add a comment |
up vote
33
down vote
favorite
Are mint and peppermint the same thing?
Can we substitute one for the other.
How can we differentiate between mint and peppermint?
substitutions mint
edited Nov 15 at 10:42
mcalex
36238
asked Nov 14 at 17:16
Iqra Amanat
37538
add a comment |
up vote
33
down vote
favorite
up vote
33
down vote
favorite
Are mint and peppermint the same thing?
Can we substitute one for the other.
How can we differentiate between mint and peppermint?
substitutions mint
edited Nov 15 at 10:42
mcalex
36238
asked Nov 14 at 17:16
Iqra Amanat
37538
Are mint and peppermint the same thing?
Can we substitute one for the other.
How can we differentiate between mint and peppermint?
substitutions mint
substitutions mint
edited Nov 15 at 10:42
mcalex
36238
asked Nov 14 at 17:16
Iqra Amanat
37538
edited Nov 15 at 10:42
mcalex
36238
asked Nov 14 at 17:16
Iqra Amanat
37538
edited Nov 15 at 10:42
mcalex
36238
edited Nov 15 at 10:42
mcalex
36238
edited Nov 15 at 10:42
mcalex
36238
36238
asked Nov 14 at 17:16
Iqra Amanat
37538
asked Nov 14 at 17:16
Iqra Amanat
37538
asked Nov 14 at 17:16
Iqra Amanat
37538
37538
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
65
down vote
accepted
Peppermint is a hybrid breed of two plants belonging to the mint genus, spearmint and watermint. In my experience, when 'mint' is referred to by itself without any other descriptors, it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to (from things like green restaurant mint candies, toothpaste, etc). Peppermint will be denoted as peppermint. However, as mentioned in the comments, this may vary based on region.
There is a significant difference in taste between peppermint and spearmint; I find peppermint to have a much more intense flavour. Scientifically, peppermint gets its flavour from its high menthol content, whereas as spearmint owes its flavour to the compound L-carvone. Substitution will not replicate the same flavour as the original.
Source for science related parts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha
answered Nov 14 at 17:45
yung thug
45636
New contributor
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
This is my first answer, so if anyone has any improvements feel free to edit it.
– yung thug
Nov 14 at 17:48
10
And a great fist answer it is too - welcome!
– Boris the Spider
Nov 15 at 8:06
22
"it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to" - this must be a regional thing. For me, peppermint is the most common mint flavor. For years, I even didn't know that spearmint is related to mint (it has a linguistically unrelated name in my mother tongue). So just saying "mint" will certainly refer to the flavor people are most used to, but which one it is will vary with culture.
– rumtscho♦
Nov 15 at 10:43
Well what does watermint taste like then? I've never heard of it. Basil is a mint plant too, right? What is the mint they use in mojitos?
– Chloe
Nov 15 at 21:33
1
@Chloe Basil is in the same family (Lamiaceae) mint is in, but is not in the Mentha branch, so is not mint. Other herbs in lamiaceae include rosemary, sage, marjoram etc. Mojito mint (mentha x villosa), apparently is the mint used in mojitos (called yerba buena in Cuba).
– mcalex
Nov 16 at 5:57
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Mint is the genus of the herb, peppermint and spearmint are two subsets. Spearmint is milder and more classically European, peppermint is rather more aggressive, and much more popular in the US (where it's usually labelled as just 'mint'). Those are the two main subsets.
You can substitute one for the other, but you will lose the characteristic flavor of the dish if you're aiming for something specific. For instance, mint tea made with peppermint doesn't taste Moroccan at all :-). If only 'mint' is specified, you can use whichever one you prefer (it's very easy to grow, so you can have your own right in your kitchen).
The only way I know to recognize them is by smell, so you have to find both different sorts and learn to distinguish them by experience.
answered Nov 15 at 1:59
George M
30714
9
Any experienced gardener who has dealt with mint will tell you that 'very easy to grow' is an understatement. If you're not container gardening it, mint (of almost any variety) can be nearly impossible to get rid of.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Nov 15 at 18:10
1
Yes, there is that :-).
– George M
Nov 15 at 21:21
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
65
down vote
accepted
Peppermint is a hybrid breed of two plants belonging to the mint genus, spearmint and watermint. In my experience, when 'mint' is referred to by itself without any other descriptors, it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to (from things like green restaurant mint candies, toothpaste, etc). Peppermint will be denoted as peppermint. However, as mentioned in the comments, this may vary based on region.
There is a significant difference in taste between peppermint and spearmint; I find peppermint to have a much more intense flavour. Scientifically, peppermint gets its flavour from its high menthol content, whereas as spearmint owes its flavour to the compound L-carvone. Substitution will not replicate the same flavour as the original.
Source for science related parts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha
answered Nov 14 at 17:45
yung thug
45636
New contributor
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
This is my first answer, so if anyone has any improvements feel free to edit it.
– yung thug
Nov 14 at 17:48
10
And a great fist answer it is too - welcome!
– Boris the Spider
Nov 15 at 8:06
22
"it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to" - this must be a regional thing. For me, peppermint is the most common mint flavor. For years, I even didn't know that spearmint is related to mint (it has a linguistically unrelated name in my mother tongue). So just saying "mint" will certainly refer to the flavor people are most used to, but which one it is will vary with culture.
– rumtscho♦
Nov 15 at 10:43
Well what does watermint taste like then? I've never heard of it. Basil is a mint plant too, right? What is the mint they use in mojitos?
– Chloe
Nov 15 at 21:33
1
@Chloe Basil is in the same family (Lamiaceae) mint is in, but is not in the Mentha branch, so is not mint. Other herbs in lamiaceae include rosemary, sage, marjoram etc. Mojito mint (mentha x villosa), apparently is the mint used in mojitos (called yerba buena in Cuba).
– mcalex
Nov 16 at 5:57
add a comment |
up vote
65
down vote
accepted
Peppermint is a hybrid breed of two plants belonging to the mint genus, spearmint and watermint. In my experience, when 'mint' is referred to by itself without any other descriptors, it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to (from things like green restaurant mint candies, toothpaste, etc). Peppermint will be denoted as peppermint. However, as mentioned in the comments, this may vary based on region.
There is a significant difference in taste between peppermint and spearmint; I find peppermint to have a much more intense flavour. Scientifically, peppermint gets its flavour from its high menthol content, whereas as spearmint owes its flavour to the compound L-carvone. Substitution will not replicate the same flavour as the original.
Source for science related parts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha
answered Nov 14 at 17:45
yung thug
45636
New contributor
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
This is my first answer, so if anyone has any improvements feel free to edit it.
– yung thug
Nov 14 at 17:48
10
And a great fist answer it is too - welcome!
– Boris the Spider
Nov 15 at 8:06
22
"it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to" - this must be a regional thing. For me, peppermint is the most common mint flavor. For years, I even didn't know that spearmint is related to mint (it has a linguistically unrelated name in my mother tongue). So just saying "mint" will certainly refer to the flavor people are most used to, but which one it is will vary with culture.
– rumtscho♦
Nov 15 at 10:43
Well what does watermint taste like then? I've never heard of it. Basil is a mint plant too, right? What is the mint they use in mojitos?
– Chloe
Nov 15 at 21:33
1
@Chloe Basil is in the same family (Lamiaceae) mint is in, but is not in the Mentha branch, so is not mint. Other herbs in lamiaceae include rosemary, sage, marjoram etc. Mojito mint (mentha x villosa), apparently is the mint used in mojitos (called yerba buena in Cuba).
– mcalex
Nov 16 at 5:57
add a comment |
up vote
65
down vote
accepted
up vote
65
down vote
accepted
Peppermint is a hybrid breed of two plants belonging to the mint genus, spearmint and watermint. In my experience, when 'mint' is referred to by itself without any other descriptors, it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to (from things like green restaurant mint candies, toothpaste, etc). Peppermint will be denoted as peppermint. However, as mentioned in the comments, this may vary based on region.
There is a significant difference in taste between peppermint and spearmint; I find peppermint to have a much more intense flavour. Scientifically, peppermint gets its flavour from its high menthol content, whereas as spearmint owes its flavour to the compound L-carvone. Substitution will not replicate the same flavour as the original.
Source for science related parts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha
answered Nov 14 at 17:45
yung thug
45636
New contributor
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Peppermint is a hybrid breed of two plants belonging to the mint genus, spearmint and watermint. In my experience, when 'mint' is referred to by itself without any other descriptors, it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to (from things like green restaurant mint candies, toothpaste, etc). Peppermint will be denoted as peppermint. However, as mentioned in the comments, this may vary based on region.
There is a significant difference in taste between peppermint and spearmint; I find peppermint to have a much more intense flavour. Scientifically, peppermint gets its flavour from its high menthol content, whereas as spearmint owes its flavour to the compound L-carvone. Substitution will not replicate the same flavour as the original.
Source for science related parts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha
answered Nov 14 at 17:45
yung thug
45636
New contributor
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Nov 15 at 16:40
answered Nov 14 at 17:45
yung thug
45636
New contributor
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Nov 14 at 17:45
yung thug
45636
answered Nov 14 at 17:45
yung thug
45636
45636
New contributor
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
yung thug is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
4
This is my first answer, so if anyone has any improvements feel free to edit it.
– yung thug
Nov 14 at 17:48
10
And a great fist answer it is too - welcome!
– Boris the Spider
Nov 15 at 8:06
22
"it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to" - this must be a regional thing. For me, peppermint is the most common mint flavor. For years, I even didn't know that spearmint is related to mint (it has a linguistically unrelated name in my mother tongue). So just saying "mint" will certainly refer to the flavor people are most used to, but which one it is will vary with culture.
– rumtscho♦
Nov 15 at 10:43
Well what does watermint taste like then? I've never heard of it. Basil is a mint plant too, right? What is the mint they use in mojitos?
– Chloe
Nov 15 at 21:33
1
@Chloe Basil is in the same family (Lamiaceae) mint is in, but is not in the Mentha branch, so is not mint. Other herbs in lamiaceae include rosemary, sage, marjoram etc. Mojito mint (mentha x villosa), apparently is the mint used in mojitos (called yerba buena in Cuba).
– mcalex
Nov 16 at 5:57
add a comment |
4
This is my first answer, so if anyone has any improvements feel free to edit it.
– yung thug
Nov 14 at 17:48
10
And a great fist answer it is too - welcome!
– Boris the Spider
Nov 15 at 8:06
22
"it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to" - this must be a regional thing. For me, peppermint is the most common mint flavor. For years, I even didn't know that spearmint is related to mint (it has a linguistically unrelated name in my mother tongue). So just saying "mint" will certainly refer to the flavor people are most used to, but which one it is will vary with culture.
– rumtscho♦
Nov 15 at 10:43
Well what does watermint taste like then? I've never heard of it. Basil is a mint plant too, right? What is the mint they use in mojitos?
– Chloe
Nov 15 at 21:33
1
@Chloe Basil is in the same family (Lamiaceae) mint is in, but is not in the Mentha branch, so is not mint. Other herbs in lamiaceae include rosemary, sage, marjoram etc. Mojito mint (mentha x villosa), apparently is the mint used in mojitos (called yerba buena in Cuba).
– mcalex
Nov 16 at 5:57
4
4
This is my first answer, so if anyone has any improvements feel free to edit it.
– yung thug
Nov 14 at 17:48
This is my first answer, so if anyone has any improvements feel free to edit it.
– yung thug
Nov 14 at 17:48
10
10
And a great fist answer it is too - welcome!
– Boris the Spider
Nov 15 at 8:06
And a great fist answer it is too - welcome!
– Boris the Spider
Nov 15 at 8:06
22
22
"it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to" - this must be a regional thing. For me, peppermint is the most common mint flavor. For years, I even didn't know that spearmint is related to mint (it has a linguistically unrelated name in my mother tongue). So just saying "mint" will certainly refer to the flavor people are most used to, but which one it is will vary with culture.
– rumtscho♦
Nov 15 at 10:43
"it usually refers to the spearmint flavour people are used to" - this must be a regional thing. For me, peppermint is the most common mint flavor. For years, I even didn't know that spearmint is related to mint (it has a linguistically unrelated name in my mother tongue). So just saying "mint" will certainly refer to the flavor people are most used to, but which one it is will vary with culture.
– rumtscho♦
Nov 15 at 10:43
Well what does watermint taste like then? I've never heard of it. Basil is a mint plant too, right? What is the mint they use in mojitos?
– Chloe
Nov 15 at 21:33
Well what does watermint taste like then? I've never heard of it. Basil is a mint plant too, right? What is the mint they use in mojitos?
– Chloe
Nov 15 at 21:33
1
1
@Chloe Basil is in the same family (Lamiaceae) mint is in, but is not in the Mentha branch, so is not mint. Other herbs in lamiaceae include rosemary, sage, marjoram etc. Mojito mint (mentha x villosa), apparently is the mint used in mojitos (called yerba buena in Cuba).
– mcalex
Nov 16 at 5:57
@Chloe Basil is in the same family (Lamiaceae) mint is in, but is not in the Mentha branch, so is not mint. Other herbs in lamiaceae include rosemary, sage, marjoram etc. Mojito mint (mentha x villosa), apparently is the mint used in mojitos (called yerba buena in Cuba).
– mcalex
Nov 16 at 5:57
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Mint is the genus of the herb, peppermint and spearmint are two subsets. Spearmint is milder and more classically European, peppermint is rather more aggressive, and much more popular in the US (where it's usually labelled as just 'mint'). Those are the two main subsets.
You can substitute one for the other, but you will lose the characteristic flavor of the dish if you're aiming for something specific. For instance, mint tea made with peppermint doesn't taste Moroccan at all :-). If only 'mint' is specified, you can use whichever one you prefer (it's very easy to grow, so you can have your own right in your kitchen).
The only way I know to recognize them is by smell, so you have to find both different sorts and learn to distinguish them by experience.
answered Nov 15 at 1:59
George M
30714
9
Any experienced gardener who has dealt with mint will tell you that 'very easy to grow' is an understatement. If you're not container gardening it, mint (of almost any variety) can be nearly impossible to get rid of.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Nov 15 at 18:10
1
Yes, there is that :-).
– George M
Nov 15 at 21:21
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
Mint is the genus of the herb, peppermint and spearmint are two subsets. Spearmint is milder and more classically European, peppermint is rather more aggressive, and much more popular in the US (where it's usually labelled as just 'mint'). Those are the two main subsets.
You can substitute one for the other, but you will lose the characteristic flavor of the dish if you're aiming for something specific. For instance, mint tea made with peppermint doesn't taste Moroccan at all :-). If only 'mint' is specified, you can use whichever one you prefer (it's very easy to grow, so you can have your own right in your kitchen).
The only way I know to recognize them is by smell, so you have to find both different sorts and learn to distinguish them by experience.
answered Nov 15 at 1:59
George M
30714
9
Any experienced gardener who has dealt with mint will tell you that 'very easy to grow' is an understatement. If you're not container gardening it, mint (of almost any variety) can be nearly impossible to get rid of.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Nov 15 at 18:10
1
Yes, there is that :-).
– George M
Nov 15 at 21:21
add a comment |
up vote
15
down vote
up vote
15
down vote
Mint is the genus of the herb, peppermint and spearmint are two subsets. Spearmint is milder and more classically European, peppermint is rather more aggressive, and much more popular in the US (where it's usually labelled as just 'mint'). Those are the two main subsets.
You can substitute one for the other, but you will lose the characteristic flavor of the dish if you're aiming for something specific. For instance, mint tea made with peppermint doesn't taste Moroccan at all :-). If only 'mint' is specified, you can use whichever one you prefer (it's very easy to grow, so you can have your own right in your kitchen).
The only way I know to recognize them is by smell, so you have to find both different sorts and learn to distinguish them by experience.
answered Nov 15 at 1:59
George M
30714
Mint is the genus of the herb, peppermint and spearmint are two subsets. Spearmint is milder and more classically European, peppermint is rather more aggressive, and much more popular in the US (where it's usually labelled as just 'mint'). Those are the two main subsets.
You can substitute one for the other, but you will lose the characteristic flavor of the dish if you're aiming for something specific. For instance, mint tea made with peppermint doesn't taste Moroccan at all :-). If only 'mint' is specified, you can use whichever one you prefer (it's very easy to grow, so you can have your own right in your kitchen).
The only way I know to recognize them is by smell, so you have to find both different sorts and learn to distinguish them by experience.
answered Nov 15 at 1:59
George M
30714
answered Nov 15 at 1:59
George M
30714
answered Nov 15 at 1:59
George M
30714
answered Nov 15 at 1:59
George M
30714
30714
9
Any experienced gardener who has dealt with mint will tell you that 'very easy to grow' is an understatement. If you're not container gardening it, mint (of almost any variety) can be nearly impossible to get rid of.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Nov 15 at 18:10
1
Yes, there is that :-).
– George M
Nov 15 at 21:21
add a comment |
9
Any experienced gardener who has dealt with mint will tell you that 'very easy to grow' is an understatement. If you're not container gardening it, mint (of almost any variety) can be nearly impossible to get rid of.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Nov 15 at 18:10
1
Yes, there is that :-).
– George M
Nov 15 at 21:21
9
9
Any experienced gardener who has dealt with mint will tell you that 'very easy to grow' is an understatement. If you're not container gardening it, mint (of almost any variety) can be nearly impossible to get rid of.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Nov 15 at 18:10
Any experienced gardener who has dealt with mint will tell you that 'very easy to grow' is an understatement. If you're not container gardening it, mint (of almost any variety) can be nearly impossible to get rid of.
– Austin Hemmelgarn
Nov 15 at 18:10
1
1
Yes, there is that :-).
– George M
Nov 15 at 21:21
Yes, there is that :-).
– George M
Nov 15 at 21:21
add a comment |
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