Mint is one of the herbs that keeps very well and can be enjoyed in drinks or dishes even when it is not in season.
Mint (Mentha) and its famous variety, Peppermint (Mentha x piperita ), are probably among the most popular herbs in Germany. Its intense, fresh aroma makes the plant a real treat and provides culinary sensations as mint tea, in drinks or as a spice. However, if you want to supply yourself with home-grown mint all year round, you should take precautions in good time. Drying mint is not difficult and there are other ways you can preserve mint. Here we explain how to proceed and what you need to watch out for.
Preserving Mint: Drying and Freezing
Fresh mint from your own garden still has the most intense aroma. You can read about how to plant mint in a separate article. Unfortunately, the herb only lasts a few days in the fridge before it wilts and is no longer usable. Since the mint in the garden and on the balcony can only be harvested before the first frosts in autumn, gardeners have to store their harvest differently in order to be able to enjoy the fresh plant until next spring. Drying and freezing have been shown to be useful in preserving mint as it preserves the aroma well.
Dry Mint
Drying is a good way to preserve mint. A major advantage of drying mint is that the ingredients and aroma are largely preserved. The following applies: the gentler the drying process, the more intense the aroma. There are now numerous ways to dry mint after harvest.
After harvesting mint, it is first cleaned. Water should be avoided here, otherwise important essential oils will be lost. So try to shake off soil or other debris and discard shoots that are already dried up or diseased.
Mint Drying Procedure:
- Mint dry on theAir: This method is the gentlest and the aroma is well preserved. Dry mint at 20 °C without direct sunlight for about 2 to 3 weeks either on drying nets or hanging up in loose bundles.
- Oven Drying Mint: A quick and easy way to dry mint is to use an oven. The leaves must be distributed individually on the baking tray and dried at around 30 to 50 °C for around 20 minutes.
Dry mint in the dehydrator: The leaves are distributed across the levels in the device without overlapping. On the lowest level, the mint is dried until it is sufficiently dry.
- Drying mint in the microwave: If you don't have much time, you can dry your mint very quickly in the microwave. Place a handful of the leaves on a microwave-safe plate and dehydrate the mint on the lowest setting in 10-second intervals. There is one downside to drying mint in the microwave: the rapid heating of the leaves means that much of the mint's fresh aroma is lost.
Freeze Mint
Whether you should freeze mint or rather dry it is a question on which opinions differ. In fact, both methods have their pros and cons. Undoubtedly, freezing preserves the flavor better, making this method a good way to store mint for drinks or food. To freeze the mint, the leaves are often already chopped up and frozen in portions with a little water in an ice cube tray - this gives an aromatic eye-catcher for cool drinks in summer. However, if you prefer to have whole leaves to garnish food, you should rely on the drying of the mint: frozen mint leaves eventually become mushy and unsightly when thawed. The dried leaves are also best for mint tea. When it comes to shelf life, the two methods are pretty much the same: If stored properly, mint can be stored frozen or dried for up to a year.
Store and store mint correctly
Once the mint leaves have dried well, they can be put into a handy storage optionbe filled. There are two signs that indicate whether the mint is completely dry: the mint leaves curl when they are dry, and they can be detached from the stem and easily crumbled by touching them with a finger. Are the leaves still smooth or can they only be picked off by tearing? Then the mint is not yet dry enough to be stored without spoiling. After the leaves have dried sufficiently, they should ideally be stored in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Jars with a screw cap are best suited for this, but airtight Tupperware containers also offer reliable protection. If you value a long shelf life and a full-bodied aroma, you can vacuum pack the dried mint in small portions. Properly stored, the dried mint leaves can be kept for several months, sometimes up to a year - however, the taste suffers with prolonged storage.
Use of Mint
Mint is extremely versatile: the plant is not only used as a flavor for chewing gum and toothpaste, but also as a dessert, drink or spice. The different types of mint can be used in a wide variety of dishes and drinks, depending on taste, and mint even cuts a fine figure outside of the kitchen. Peppermint and the peppermint oil derived from it is a well-known remedy. It is said to relieve gastrointestinal complaints such as a feeling of fullness or flatulence and to help with colds and coughs. In medicine, mint is used as a tea and inhalation. Mint oil is also used externally for muscle and nerve pain as well as migraines and itching caused by insect bites. Lemon mint (Mentha gentilis var. citrata) is said to ensure peaceful nights: its smell is avoided by mosquitoes, so that they soon die Seek distance.
How he althy is mint?
Mint contains numerous bitter and tannins as well as varying levels of the essential oil menthol, depending on the variety. This has an antispasmodic, cooling and disinfecting effect and also stimulates blood circulation. Menthol should not be used on infants and young children as it can cause shortness of breath. Mint tea is said to help against nausea and stomach problems, whereby excessive consumption can irritate the stomach lining and cause heartburn. A daily dose of 3 to 6 g of the dried leaves as a tea is recommendedbut should not be drunk every day.
Adequate water and nutrient supply are important for the successful cultivation of mint in the garden. You can find out what else you should consider when caring for mint in our special article.