How many ways to use mint?
How many days in the year?
Do you know that mint is the symbol of hospitality?
One of Ovid's tales of gods and godesses,
written 2000 years ago, was inspired by mint-the symbol of hospitality.
Philemon and Baucis, a man and wife, were living in Phygia, a country in Asia Minor.
The land was so poor, this couple had hardly enough food to keep them alive.
One day two strangers knocked at their door, asking to be fed.
Despite their poverty, they were delighted to have guest, and prepared the best meal possible from their meager supplies.
Wishing to fill their humble home with inviting fragrance they rubbed the table with mint leaves. At that point their anxieties were past-the guest proved to be Zeus and Hermes, incognito. The hovel was soon transformed into a temple, and priest ministered to all the needs of Philemon and Baucis for the duration of their lives. ( and who's to say not.)
Mint was well known and highly esteemed in the ancient world.
The Pharisees paid tithes of mint, anise, and cumin.
In Greece, crushed mint leaves were used as perfume for the arms and to scent the bath.
Naturalist Pliny had the highest regard for mint as a medicine. He wrote,
" The very smell of it reanimates the spirit."
It could, for example, stop the hiccups, kill the sting of sea serpents, and if consumed just before an oration, clear the voice.
Speed forward to 2007...it makes awesome tea, hot or cold.
It is the life of a Mint Julep.
Transforms green peas into magic peas.
Does for a chocolate what tomatoes do for a BLT...
Oh...and have you ever put a few sprigs on a baking ham...place it under pineapple slices and secure with baking picks or tooth picks.
Drop a few sprigs into the coffee filter while your coffee is dripping....
And, if you want to smell especially splendid, just crush some leaves and rub your arms.
The bed in the photo is Orange Mint.
The signature mint at Sage Hill Farms is Black-peppermint,
and our house blend tea is a mix of Lemon Balm and Black-peppermint.
If you feel so inclined, you might wish to give it a try.
It will soothe and relax you after a fine dinner.
Prepares you for a good nights sleep.
You can find us here...we will leave the light on for you!
4 comments:
"We will leave the light on for you."
Bea, you've charmed me! Such a lovely person you are. I adore mint! This summer I made sure to have a pitcher of cold iced tea with fresh spearmint and/or lemon balm from my herb garden available at all times. So fresh and cleansing! Where's that mint blend page... I'm going there right now.
Ohooo, a girl after my own heart.
Lemon Balm is so overlooked in the herb world.
I could write a book on the many lovely things about this awesome herb. I'm so happy to know that you grow it too.
Thanks for order and I love feedback....
Have a splendid day!
Bea Kunz
Sage Hill Farms
I only have one kind of mint growing at my place. I have no idea what variety it is. :(
But learning to use the stuff. Mixed it with rosemary to use as a flea dip on the cats. Smells so much better than the commercial stuff.
http://connectsimply.com/blog
Heidi, that is a wonderful use for the mint, and for many other herbs.
Rosemary and sage makes an awecome rinse for dark hair, brings out the red highlights and makes it shine. Cleans the scalp too.
Peppermint has rather long and slender leaves and smells very much like peppermint.
Orange mint has rounded leaves and is slick and shiny.
Apple mint has large rounded leaves with a real fuzzy feel and look.
Most all others have a saw-tooth edge with smallish leaves, and with most you should be able to tell by the scent.
Lemon Balm is very full and very lemony.
Mint of any king is pretty invasive, so be cautious about where you plant it.
Blessings,
Bea Kunz
Sage Hill Farms
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