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Mint is a herbaceous plant belonging to the family of clear flowers. Currently, there are more than 25 species of this crop. The composition of the leaves and inflorescences of the herb includes volatile esters that give the plant a menthol aroma.
Mint contains flavonoids, tannins, vitamins, and minerals. Due to the rich ingredient composition, healers everywhere use mint in traditional and folk medicine. Peppermint leaves are rich in volatile oils, they also contain triterpene compounds (various acids), mineral salts, tannins, and enzymes.
Aromatic mint stimulates the digestive glands, eliminates spasms, reduces nervous excitability, and relieves headaches. Based on medicinal raw materials, manufacturers produce infusions, decoctions, extracts, and essential oil.
In folk medicine, mint is a powerful antiseptic and analgesic. The herb is beneficial for stomach cramps. It brings relief when coughing. Doctors prescribe a course of therapeutic baths with mint to patients with nerves and neurological problems. In addition, mint is popular in the perfume, cosmetics, liquor, and confectionery industries.
How to preserve mint leaves
There are several methods known to preserve the freshness of mint for a long time. Here are simple, but it is worth paying attention to some points:
- The plant accumulates the maximum amount of beneficial components in early summer. During this period, its flowering occurs. The natural process indicates the need for harvesting for subsequent storage.
- You need to cut the mint and melissa in the morning after the dew comes off.
- These conditions are recommendatory, it is possible to collect herbs for harvesting at other times, but compliance with the listed rules will allow you to get the best raw materials.
Before laying for storage, it is necessary to prepare the raw materials:
- Sort the stems, remove dry leaves, remove other herbs and other debris.
- Rinse the plant under running water and shake off the water from it.
- Spread out on newspapers or paper towels, leave until the moisture has completely evaporated from the surface of the leaves.
How to use frozen mint leaves
All preparations from mint, except for variants with lemon, sugar syrups, are used by specialists in folk medicine and home cosmetology. This form is much more convenient than dried mint stalks. You can freeze mint in several ways:
- Freezing without blanching. Chop the mint leaves and place them in a food storage container. The shelf life is not more than nine months. Later, mint will lose its beneficial properties.
- Blanching of mint. Dip the mint in boiling water for a few seconds, then immediately into cold water and place it in bags for freezing.
Why you can freeze mint
- Ice cubes. They look great in various cocktails, in transparent glasses with ordinary or mineral water. You can use them to quickly cool tea, compote, and other beverages.
- Mixes with lemon. An ingredient of drinks, beneficial tea, the remedy has medicinal properties. You can add it to compotes, fruit drinks made from frozen berries, and fruits. The preparation gives a pleasant refreshing aroma.
- Whole branches and leaves. They are suitable for all types of drinks, decorating dishes. There are recipes for meat desserts.
How to preserve mint leaves for tea – Okawa Rikyū Method
For tea, you can save mint with the help of sugar, in which you need to add this herb. Chefs like to use these sweeteners for drinks, pastries, desserts, or fruit salads. This freezing allows the sugar to be impregnated with trace elements of mint.
Mint tea has a special taste and aroma, as well as a positive effect on the body. Dried mint retains many of its healing and aromatic properties, so tea brewed on its basis will be delicious. To enjoy a healthy drink in winter, you should know how to properly dry mint at home.
- Collect fragrant herbs, which are best done at the end of July. During this period, they contain the maximum amount of essential oils.
- Carefully inspect the collected grass and sort it out. Remove weeds and damaged leaves. Rinse the mint under running cold water to get rid of dust and possible insects. Then dry it with a paper towel, removing all moisture. Now you can start directly drying the plant.
- You can dry the mint in several ways: naturally, in an electric dryer or an oven.
Methods of drying mint for tea:
- The natural way. Drying naturally is the simplest option that is available to everyone. Divide the prepared grass into small bundles and tie it carefully with a thread for the stems. Hang the bundles with the leaves down in a dark, dry, and warm place. The optimal temperature for drying is +25 ℃. Leave the plant in this form for several weeks, but periodically check its readiness.
- In the oven. Spread the prepared grass in one layer on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Set the temperature in the oven to +65…85 ℃, and place the workpiece there. Dry the grass with the door slightly open to avoid drying out the leaves.
- In the microwave. Spread the herb on a platter in one layer and place it in the microwave. Turn on the device at intervals of 10 seconds to monitor the drying process. The duration of drying depends on the size of the leaves and the number of raw materials.
How to freeze fresh mint without water
It is easy to freeze mint without using water. You need to take a special container with a lid for freezing food. Washed and dried from the water mint should be put on a tray and frozen, and after 10 minutes very quickly pour it into a bag.
There is a good life hack: you need to sign packages or containers with mint. Their shelf life is 6-9 months. You can use frozen mint in this form for brewing fragrant tea or other warm drink.
Preserving mint in sugar
One of the ways to preserve the mint flavor for the winter is the preparation of mint sugar. This fragrant delicacy is suitable for a wide variety of culinary dishes.
You can use mint sugar in baking, for drinks, salads, and making desserts. All the ingredients need to be crushed and mixed with a blender. Then put them in sealed jars and store them in the refrigerator. For the fragrant aroma of your culinary inventions, you should add such mint to the prepared dish.
Is mint good for kidneys?
Mint stimulates the outflow of bile from the gallbladder to the liver, tea from it can help relieve pain and discomfort with colic and spasms of the gallbladder.
Mint helps to lower blood sugar and blood pressure, so it is not recommended for people taking medications for diabetes or blood pressure problems.
Can you freeze mint leaves for mojitos?
The bartenders add mostly fresh mint to the mojito. The main function of mint in a drink is to give freshness. Dried mint is not suitable for adding to a mojito. You need to use either fresh mint or frozen in the freezer. Such a product can preserve the maximum of its properties and freshness.
There are three main types of mint: peppermint, mint, and menthol. The best option for a mojito is mint or menthol mint. It retains maximum freshness. Peppermint is more suitable for adding to tea.
Can you eat mint leaves on Raw?
Fresh mint leaves consist of biologically active substances, among which essential oil predominates. Experts characterize the essential oil with pronounced therapeutic properties — antispasmodic, antiseptic, sedative.
But the high concentration of menthol in the essential oil also determines the list of contraindications to the use of fresh plants. The attending physician should determine whether it is possible to eat mint fresh.
High temperature destroys a significant part of the essential oil, flavonoids, phytoncides, and hot. Therefore, the use of fresh mint has its undoubted advantages. The inclusion of fragrant leaves in the diet will allow you to replenish the body’s reserves of vitamins and minerals.
Can mint leaves reduce belly fat?
Mint is a product that you can effectively use for weight loss. Thanks to its properties, you will reduce your appetite, dull the feeling of hunger and more easily cope with stress, because of which there is a desire to overeat.
There are different types of drinks with mint for weight loss, which will take several minutes to prepare.
Everyone says that during weight loss, regardless of diet, you need to drink mint. Why should you brew this particular herb to lose extra pounds? So, mint tea has the main advantage, thanks to which weight loss goes more smoothly and as efficiently as possible– it reduces appetite.
If you want to eat something forbidden or high-calorie, for example, a cake, then it’s enough to drink a cup of tea to reduce cravings. It will be both a liquid and a small snack, so you can easily hold out until the next meal. Maybe at first, the effect will be minimal, but you will eat less than you planned, and this will happen thanks to mint.
Can we drink mint water daily?
Water with mint optimizes the process of the whole body, its components have a beneficial effect on the internal organs and the general condition of a person.
A freshwater is an ideal tool for detox, it helps to remove accumulated toxins and neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals. Its use lies in the regeneration of cells and tissues in the intramuscular system of the body.
Scientists around the world have concluded that drinks with mint slow down the aging process.
- It helps in terms of weight loss — 100 grams of mint is only 40-75 calories.
- Improves digestion – you can drink tea with the plant for diarrhea and intestinal disorders.
- Cleanses the liver – mint effectively cleanses the organ from toxins.
- Strengthens the immune system – the vitamin complex protects the body.
- Improves the skin condition – mint water is an ideal tool for washing the skin of the face and body.
You can drink a beverage with mint at any time of the day or night. It will cheer you up in the morning and give you peace of mind in the evening.
We use the plant as a sedative, so the tea ceremony with mint leaves will be a good relaxation at the end of a hard working day. But if you suffer from insomnia, it is better to abandon the use of fragrant herbs.
What are the side effects of mint leaves?
Any medicinal plant, in addition to its useful properties and indications, has contraindications and possible side effects. These include:
- Low blood pressure – the use of mint at low pressure is contraindicated because it contributes to the expansion of blood vessels and an even decrease in pressure.
- Varicose veins -due to the pronounced effect on the vessels, the course of varicose veins is aggravated.
- Allergic reactions – no one is immune from the formation of allergies, even medicinal plants can provoke it and mint is one of them.
Does peppermint raise blood pressure?
For people suffering from high blood pressure, the inclusion of peppermint in the list of folk remedies is obvious. The components of the herb, including flavonoids and menthol, have a positive effect on the condition of blood vessels.
The extensibility, elasticity of the walls increases, and the vessels withstand blood pressure. In addition, peppermint contains substances that prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques.
Closing
Mint is a medicinal herb that performs several healing properties for the body. It helps to restore the nervous system, improves digestion, and fight insomnia.
A cup of tea with mint is the best remedy after a hard day’s work. It is worth remembering that you will not find fresh mint anywhere in the winter. You need to take care of your health in advance.
There are several ways to preserve mint for the winter: freezing and drying. Freezing helps to preserve more nutrients and refreshing substances.