Refreshing qualities of mint
Refreshing qualities of mint
Overview of mint, including its cultivation, culinary and medicinal uses, history and mythology, and appearance under the microscope.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
Transcript
Mint, probably the most refreshing plant in the world. Every morning when we brush our teeth, we taste that typical sharp coolness. Mint is the fragrant ingredient in toothpaste, chewing gum and other breath fresheners.
Yet the herb does so much more. Mint is a true all-rounder. In the kitchen, it gives dishes around the globe a spicy, fresh taste. In India, for example, mint refines chutneys and rice dishes. In England, it is used for that famous sweet and sour mint sauce. And in Arab cuisine, couscous or lamb dishes with mint are commonly found on the menu. A spicy salad of zucchini, chili and fresh mint leaves is an intriguing combination of flavors. The cool aroma of mint is also accentuated particularly well in desserts such as fruit salad, ice cream or chocolate. The fresh leaves make a pretty garnish.
Mint has a large family that is constantly growing larger. The plants are very happy to mate and create ever-new sub-species through cross-breeding. This leads to such exotic species as orange mint, pineapple mint or strawberry mint. Of the roughly 30 different mint species known to date, peppermint is still the most popular. It remains in high demand worldwide because of its intense, slightly spicy taste.
To reveal the source of that unique refreshing mint flavor, scientists analyze the herb with a scanning electron microscope in thousandfold magnification. These leaves and their tiny little hairs contain the precious essential oils. One of them is especially abundant - menthol, responsible for the pungent taste.
The essential oils are also the source of the herb's healing properties. Not only does the menthol have a cooling effect, it also relieves headaches and colds and soothes gastric problems. In the year 812, Charlemagne thus decreed the cultivation of four different mint species in every herb garden, in order to assure the well-being of his subjects.
These days, delicious, wholesome mint tea is still the perfect start to the day for many people. Mint tea enjoys a rich tradition in North Africa and other Arab countries. It is not brewed with fresh or dried leaves as in the Western world, but instead green or black tea is prepared and then flavored with fresh mint stems. The tea is then sweetened with heaps of sugar and drunk in good company.
Mint is a real globetrotter, putting down roots all over the planet. In Greek mythology, the wife of Hades killed a nymph called Mintha out of jealousy. A mint plant then sprouted from the slain nymph's body. So a mythical creature was the inspiration for the name of this beautiful herb. Mint itself isn´t actually very fussy in its choice of partners. Once in the ground, it spreads very rapidly and doesn't shy away from cross-breeding with other species of mint. To avoid this, the plant can either be grown in pots or its root growth must be restricted by shards of pottery.
On its trip around the world, mint was the inspiration for a very special recipe, the mojito. In this world-famous cocktail, it enters into a liaison with rum, lime, sugar and soda water. A Cuban classic, whose tangy-sweet freshness made it Ernest Hemingway's favorite drink.
Yet the herb does so much more. Mint is a true all-rounder. In the kitchen, it gives dishes around the globe a spicy, fresh taste. In India, for example, mint refines chutneys and rice dishes. In England, it is used for that famous sweet and sour mint sauce. And in Arab cuisine, couscous or lamb dishes with mint are commonly found on the menu. A spicy salad of zucchini, chili and fresh mint leaves is an intriguing combination of flavors. The cool aroma of mint is also accentuated particularly well in desserts such as fruit salad, ice cream or chocolate. The fresh leaves make a pretty garnish.
Mint has a large family that is constantly growing larger. The plants are very happy to mate and create ever-new sub-species through cross-breeding. This leads to such exotic species as orange mint, pineapple mint or strawberry mint. Of the roughly 30 different mint species known to date, peppermint is still the most popular. It remains in high demand worldwide because of its intense, slightly spicy taste.
To reveal the source of that unique refreshing mint flavor, scientists analyze the herb with a scanning electron microscope in thousandfold magnification. These leaves and their tiny little hairs contain the precious essential oils. One of them is especially abundant - menthol, responsible for the pungent taste.
The essential oils are also the source of the herb's healing properties. Not only does the menthol have a cooling effect, it also relieves headaches and colds and soothes gastric problems. In the year 812, Charlemagne thus decreed the cultivation of four different mint species in every herb garden, in order to assure the well-being of his subjects.
These days, delicious, wholesome mint tea is still the perfect start to the day for many people. Mint tea enjoys a rich tradition in North Africa and other Arab countries. It is not brewed with fresh or dried leaves as in the Western world, but instead green or black tea is prepared and then flavored with fresh mint stems. The tea is then sweetened with heaps of sugar and drunk in good company.
Mint is a real globetrotter, putting down roots all over the planet. In Greek mythology, the wife of Hades killed a nymph called Mintha out of jealousy. A mint plant then sprouted from the slain nymph's body. So a mythical creature was the inspiration for the name of this beautiful herb. Mint itself isn´t actually very fussy in its choice of partners. Once in the ground, it spreads very rapidly and doesn't shy away from cross-breeding with other species of mint. To avoid this, the plant can either be grown in pots or its root growth must be restricted by shards of pottery.
On its trip around the world, mint was the inspiration for a very special recipe, the mojito. In this world-famous cocktail, it enters into a liaison with rum, lime, sugar and soda water. A Cuban classic, whose tangy-sweet freshness made it Ernest Hemingway's favorite drink.