Mint the term mint does not refer to peppermint or one of its relatives. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family (mint family). Leaves are the used plant part. Characteristically pure and refreshing odor, pungent and burning tastes.

Main Constituents

The essential oil of peppermint (up to 2.5% in the dried leaves) is mostly made up from menthol (ca. 50%), menthone (10 to 30%), menthyl esters (up to 10%) and further monoterpene derivatives (pulegone, piperitone, menthofurane). Traces of jasmone (0.1%) improve the oil's quality remarkably. Menthol and menthyl acetate are responsible for the pungent and refreshing odour; they are mostly found in older leaves and are preferentially formed during long daily sunlight periods. Other mints may contain rather different terpenes: Mentha pulegium (pennyroyal) contains 80% Pulegon, and M. crispa (crispate mint) contains 50% Carvone.