Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Flowers: July to August. Height: Up to 90cm (35in).
Peppermint is a natural hybrid of water mint and spearmint and was first cultivated in England in the late 17th century. Monks were known to use peppermint as a tooth polisher while cheese makers used its strong smell to keep rats and mice out of the storeroom. The Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia (77AD) wrote that mint should be bound into a crown around the head in order to stimulate the mind and the soul. This plant has a long history of cultivation and has been used in cooking and herbal medicine for hundreds of years.
Medicinal: Recognised as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and good for pain relief, it was used to treat the common cold, headaches, inflammations, digestive problems, indigestion and as an appetite stimulant.
Culinary: Mint tea for digestion, mint sauce for meats and added to lemonade.
