By Sheryl Kleinschmidt, Somervell County Master Gardener
My earliest recollection of spearmint is from my grandmother’s house in Central Texas when I was a little girl. My grandmother was a naturalist of sorts and taught me many important lessons such as how to forage non-poisonous mushrooms, how to identify wildflowers, and how to use mint to flavor my iced tea. From that time on, the mint plant has held a special place in my memory, and most of my adult life I’ve grown it in either a pot or in the garden.
The spearmint plant (so-called because the pointy leaves reminded someone of a spear) is not native to America but was brought here by early English settlers who acquired their mints from the Romans. There are some thirty species of mint, but since the mints are feisty plants, they interbreed quite easily resulting in many hybrids. (Hint: if you want your spearmint to remain pure, don’t mix it with other mints in the garden.)
All mint plants have a square stem with simple leaves in opposite pairs. They prefer semi-shade and rich, moist soil but adapt quite readily to lesser environments when necessary. Underground runners help this aromatic little plant spread quite rapidly and it can become a nuisance if not kept in check. It grows so prolifically in the state of Tennessee that it is considered an invasive weed there. Not so in other states where spearmint has become a cash crop. Some of the Northern Plains and Midwest states are selling mint to companies that use it for flavoring and medicinal uses. Thus, we have mint candy, toothpaste, gum, soaps, and shampoos, as well as medicines for stomach ailments.
Spearmint has played its part in American history as well as in the kitchen and medicine cabinet. Prior to the American Revolution, the colonists drank mint tea as opposed to black teas to avoid the dreaded English tax. And, during the Civil War, black tea was mostly unavailable, so Americans again turned to mint tea as a common beverage.
As far as my personal usage goes, I still use mint in my iced tea and sometimes put it in a cup of hot chocolate. If I need a quick breath mint, a chewed leave suffices quite well. My grandchildren are learning the difference between spearmint and lemon balm and enjoy tasting and smelling them in the garden. I hope I instill in them the love of nature/gardening as my grandmother did in me. I am also anxious to see if my lemon balm and spearmint plants will cross-breed this spring!