Varieties

The two most common varieties of mint are peppermint and spearmint. Peppermint has bright green leaves and purple-tinged stems, with a peppery flavour. Spearmint leaves can be either greyish-green or true green, and have a milder flavour.

Storage

Store fresh mint in the refrigerator, wrapped in paper towels and enclosed in a plastic bag, for up to one week. Alternatively, store stems down in a glass of water and cover with a plastic bag, changing the water every two days - this may help keep the mint more fresh.

How to use it

Common to Middle Eastern cooking, mint is a often found in both savoury and sweet dishes like fruit salad, yoghurt, couscous, tabbouleh, bean soups, chickpeas, or rice-pilaf. It is also excellent with cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant and green beans. Because of its soothing effect on the digestive system, mint is often used to make hot or iced-tea, and is commonly used to make a jelly to accompany lamb dishes.