Nana

Species

Mint, or Mentha, is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An estimated 18 to 24 species exist, though the boundaries between them are unclear. Many hybrids and cultivars are known. Peppermint, Mentha × piperita, is now agreed to be a hybrid between Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata. Spearmint, Mentha spicata, is native to Europe and southern temperate Asia.

Chemistry

The main constituents of the essential oil from Mentha × piperita are menthol (41%) and menthone (23%). In the oil of Mentha piperita, menthol ranges from 38 to 70% and menthone from 0.4 to 35%. Other components include menthyl acetate, eucalyptol and menthofuran. The oil's quality improves with higher menthol and menthone content and lower menthofuran and pulegone content. Some authors consider menthofuran a marker for identifying an authentic peppermint oil.

The most abundant compound in spearmint oil is R-(-)-carvone, which makes up 50-80% of the oil. Spearmint oil also contains significant amounts of limonene, dihydrocarvone and 1,8-cineol. Unlike peppermint oil, it contains only minimal amounts of menthol and menthone.

Menthol is a monoterpenoid organic compound with the formula C₁₀H₂₀O. In nature, menthol occurs in peppermint oil together with a little menthone, the ester menthyl acetate and other compounds.

Production

Peppermint is indigenous to Europe and the Middle East and is now cultivated in many regions of the world. In 2023, world production of peppermint was 35,547 tonnes, led by Morocco with 78% of the total and Argentina with 20%. In 2020, Oregon and Washington produced most of American peppermint. The leaves of American peppermint are processed for essential oil used mainly to flavour chewing gum and toothpaste. An International Standard Organization standard, ISO 856:2006, covers oil of peppermint.

History

Peppermint was first identified in Hertfordshire, England, by a Dr. Eales, a discovery that John Ray published in 1696. The plant was added to the London Pharmacopoeia in 1721. Carl Linnaeus gave it the name Mentha piperita in 1753. The ancient Greeks rubbed mint on their arms in the belief that it would make them stronger. Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains.

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Related: Apple Mint · Lesser Calamint · Menthol · Spearmint