Peppermint is a very versatile herb. Especially when it's dried. Here are drying instructions and usage tips.
The perennial peppermint usually grows so luxuriantly that you can harvest it regularly from mid-May. The leaves are suitable fresh for tea and for cooking, but can also be dried very well. They can then also be used outside the kitchen.
Dried peppermint leaves go well in bath water, in scented sachets and in a fragrant potpourri of flowers.
The right time for the harvest
Sunny or at least dry, cloudless days are ideal. It is favorable if the past few days have been rainless. Wait until late morning for the dew on the plants to dry completely. Then cut the stems just above the ground so that there is as little soil as possible on them.
Prepare Peppermint for Drying
The peppermint, no matter what kind of peppermint, should be clean, but if possible not washed. In your own garden you can be sure that there are no foreign contaminants on the plants. Pluck off dirty and damaged leaves. Now loosely tie several stems together and hang the bundle in an airy, dry place.
Alternatively, pluck off any leaves you want to dry and spread them out on a layer of newspaper or paper towels. The leaves will then dry within a few days in a shady, dry and sheltered place. Do not dry in the sun, because then the leaves will turn brown and lose their aroma. The process is complete when the leaves are crumbly. Then you can just strip them off the branches.
The Best Storage for Dried Peppermint
Once the peppermint is completely dry, it can be stored for the fall and winter. Important: There must be no moisture left in the leaves, otherwise the dried leaves can become moldy. The containers for storage must also be completely clean and dry. Metal cans and jars with screw caps are well suited. Better notPlastic containers, because despite all caution, condensation can form in them.
Keep supplies in a cool place. Glasses should also be in the dark because peppermint contains essential oils that become weaker when exposed to light.
Peppermint Uses
» Peppermint Dishes:
Tea is the prime example when it comes to peppermint. Peppermint tea is refreshing and easy on the stomach. The dried mint also fits in salads, vegetable, lamb and minced meat dishes and sauces. Peppermint is ideal for oriental cuisine - together with other exotic spices, it develops the typical taste of the orient. In English cuisine, mint sauce is a classic accompaniment to lamb.
» Peppermint in scented sachets and potpourris:
The aromatic scent of peppermint fits well in scented sachets that you can hang up in the closet. It's not as intense as lavender, and it doesn't last very long either. So either make a mixture with various other herbs or replace the filling in the bag every now and then. You can create your own fragrance potpourri from dried rose petals, lavender blossoms and peppermint.
» Peppermint as a bath additive:
Soak in peppermint! To keep the bathtub clean, do not put the dried leaves directly into it, but prepare a tea infusion. Dose generously so that you can really enjoy your aromatic peppermint bath!