The Collection · Herbal
They grow side by side, look alike and share a family name, yet one sip tells them apart. If you have ever found peppermint tea a little too fierce, spearmint may be the mint for you.
Two plants, one family
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is one of the oldest cultivated mints. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a natural hybrid of spearmint and water mint. They share the square stems and fresh scent of the mint family, but their oils are quite different.
Why they taste different
Peppermint is rich in menthol, the compound behind that strong, icy, almost tingling cool. Spearmint contains very little menthol. Its main aroma compound is carvone, which gives a softer, sweeter, rounder mint flavour, the taste many people know from spearmint chewing gum.
- Peppermint: intense, sharp, very cooling.
- Spearmint: mellow, sweet, gently cooling.
Which should you choose?
Choose peppermint when you want a bold, wake-up cup. Choose spearmint when you want something smooth enough to sip all afternoon, or to blend: it sits beautifully alongside lemongrass, green tea or a slice of fresh ginger.
You will find peppermint in our Serenity Sanctuary Blend, and pure spearmint as a single herb in our herbal collection.
Herbal teas are enjoyed as food, not medicine. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have plant allergies, please check with your doctor first.