History of Mint

Mint is an ancient herb and the use of mint tea dates back to medieval Europe. Mint's distinct smell has made it one of the more popular herbs throughout history. From Europe to India to the Middle East, it has been used to clear the air. In ancient Greece, mint leaves were rubbed on dining tables to welcome guests, while in the Middle East, the host still traditionally offers mint tea to guests upon their arrival.

What is Mint?

There are about 25 different species of mints and peppermint is actually a natural hybrid cross between Mentha aquatica (water mint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint).

Peppermint: Peppermint has greenish-purple lance-shaped leaves and has tastes of a cross between pepper and green chlorophyll. Where chamomile tea can be calming and soothing, peppermint tea is very refreshing and relaxing.

Spearmint: Spearmint has crinkled leaves and pointed leaf tips shaped like spears and is more of a grayish green color than peppermint leaves and has a little more subtle and cool taste than peppermint.

Other plants in mint family include:
  • apple mint
  • orange mint
  • water mint
  • curly mint
  • Corsican mint

Health Benefits of Mint

Mint has significant health benefits mainly focussed around the digestive system.

It has an anti-spasmodic action which helps with:

    * stomach cramps
    * wind
    * dyspepsia
    * diarrhoea
    * Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
    * heartburn
    * indigestion
    * morning sickness
    * nausea

It is also excellent for:

    * clearing a head when suffering from a cold or headaches
    * sweetens breath
    * baby colic
    * manage stress
    * asthma

Mint has an amazing power to cure cancer. Mint contains a phytonutrient called perillyl alcohol. This phytonutrient prevents the occurrence of colon, skin and lung cancer. Mint works by attacking the tumour's blood vessels, starving cancer to death.

With Spearmint teas, recent studies have found that drinking two cups a day can help with Hirsutism – this condition in women, where hair grows in areas such as the face, stomach and chest is thought to be caused by too many androgens (male hormones such as freely circulating testosterone).

Recipe

Chocolate Mint Tea

Chocolate goes well with tea, not just coffee. You can brew up this recipe is a jiffy, using instant hot chocolate powder and bags of mint tea.

Ingredients: 6 mint tea bags / 6 cups milk / 6 tablespoons hot chocolate mix

Preparation: In a saucepan, heat milk with tea bags until almost boiling. Steep for a couple of minutes and strain out tea bags. Pour our 6 mugs of milk, and then stir in a tablespoon of chocolate powder in each mug.

Visit http://www.teaworld.co.uk/search.php?start=0&end=9&query=Mint to see the full range of Mint teas at teaworld.co.uk

Written by Uma Mays
Article source: Articlesbase.com
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