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Black mint or peppermint is one of the varieties of plants of the Lamiaceae family, bred artificially. The culture is widespread throughout Europe. The main difference from this subspecies of mint from others is a higher concentration of aromatic oils in the tissues of the plant, although its aroma is less strong. The main uses of culture are culinary and traditional medicine.
Description of black mint
This hybrid appeared as a result of crossing water mint and spearmint and has a purely artificial origin. Despite the fact that in nature the areas of these cultures intersect, stable “wild” forms have not been recorded.
From the point of view of botany, the pepper variety is a perennial with a powerful taproot having thin fibrous processes. The stems of the plant are straight and tall (up to 1 m). An interesting feature is their tetrahedral cross section and the presence of cavities inside. Despite this, the aerial part of peppermint is quite strong and able to withstand strong wind pressure. Branching and foliage at the stem is high. In some cases, it is covered with short hairs.
Peppermint leaves are opposite, having, unlike classic fragrant mint, not rounded, but elongated. In addition, they are smooth, not terry. The length of the leaf can reach up to 7 cm. The edges of the leaves are always pointed.
The flowers of peppermint are small, collected in spike-like inflorescences. Mostly they are bisexual, but only pistillate are found. Usually inflorescences are located at the tops of the stems or in 2-3 extreme internodes. The color of the petals is purple or pink, white and pink colors are rare.
Peppermint is an excellent honey plant. A large number of flowers provides the bees with a sufficient amount of nectar and pollen. At the same time, honey has the aroma of menthol – the main component of mint essential oil. It is thanks to him that peppermint has a specific smell that spreads over long distances.
Flowering time is from early July to mid-September. Fruiting, even in the case of tying, rarely occurs. The fruit is four small nuts. Seed propagation is used only to obtain hybrids. The main method of vegetative seating is the division of the bush.
The use of black mint in cooking
The main use is found in leaves and flowers, in rare cases, stems. For maximum effect, all parts of peppermint must be harvested during the flowering period. In cooking, it is used as a spice due to the high content of essential oils.
What is the flavor of black mint?
The content of essential oils in peppermint is very high. In leaves, it exceeds 2,5%, and in flowers it can reach up to 6%. For comparison, in the field it is 2%, in fragrant – about 3,5%.
But that’s not all. Since the concentration of menthol in this variety of plant is maximum (up to 92% of the total amount of oil), the plant will have a pronounced mint aroma.
It will be a strong invigorating smell, practically devoid of any impurities, since the main active substance will literally “clog” other components. It will not be like the soft aroma of fragrant mint, familiar to everyone who drank tea with it. Also, it will not have some of the notes characteristic of the field variety, which has a somewhat greater variety of essential oil components.
Where can you add black mint?
Due to the high concentration of menthol, mint in various forms (raw, dried, in the form of oil, etc.) is used as a spice in many cuisines of the world. In particular, in English cuisine it is used as an additive to sauces served with lamb.
In North America, peppermint is used as an accompaniment to soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, and more. Also common use as a component of salads. At the same time, both green leaves and spices made on the basis of oil extracts are taken.
Mediterranean cuisine (Italy, Spain, the Middle East) predominantly uses the dried leaves and flowers of the plant as a component of a mixture of spices.
However, mint leaves are also used in the region, they are added to fried or stewed dishes of beef, lamb or chicken. Fresh shoots with young parts of the plant are used in soups and marinades, and are also used in cheese making.
Rules of landing
Peppermint is a hardy and hardy plant. Even an inexperienced gardener can grow it, since the plant does not impose any special requirements on the composition of the soil or on irrigation regimes. Able to survive and bloom quite abundantly in almost any conditions. But in order for the cultivation efficiency to be maximum, you will have to work a little with the plant.
Peppermint grows best in full sun or partial shade. It is desirable to protect the landing site with some fairly strong fence (for example, slate), since the mint will grow very actively. The best neighbors of black peppermint are Solanaceae and Cereals (tomatoes, potatoes). It is advisable not to plant mint next to Cruciferous and Pumpkin.
Peppermint does well in dry, acidic soils. On neutral or alkaline, the smell weakens over time. A good predecessor of black mint are Legumes and Cereals.
It is desirable to plant peppermint during the active growing season. Actually, determining this time is quite simple – if the culture does not bloom, it can be transplanted. Usually landing is carried out in the fall at the end of September. If necessary, you can plant mint in the spring, but this should be done as early as possible. Reproduction by dividing the bush is quite simple: the rhizome can be divided without even digging it out of the ground. It is enough just to cut off part of the stems with a shovel and transfer them, along with a clod of earth, to a new site.
Seed propagation of peppermint occurs in the spring. In the middle or end of October, the selected area for planting is dug up and cleared of weeds. You can add some organic fertilizer (such as compost), but there is no urgent need for this.
Planting dates can be significantly spaced apart in time, but it is recommended to plant black mint seeds as early as early March, as soon as the snow melts. Later plantings are possible but best avoided as by the end of the season the plant will not be able to fully develop and prepare for its first winter. It is relatively difficult to obtain planting material in the form of seeds on your own, so it would be preferable to purchase it in a specialized store.
Planting peppermint seeds is carried out in this order:
- In the spring, the site is cleared of winter debris, dug up and leveled.
- Furrows up to 5 cm deep are made on the site.
- In them, with a step of 30-50 cm, 2-3 seeds are planted.
- After that, the grooves are sprinkled with earth, leveled, compacted and watered over the entire area.
Features of cultivation and care
The rules for caring for a culture are quite simple:
- At the beginning of the growing season, the plant needs abundant watering. The frequency of watering – as the top layer of soil dries out, usually 2-4 waterings per month are enough.
- Soil loosening is carried out to a depth of 3-5 cm, they are combined with irrigation.
- In the case of very poor soils (e.g. sandy or rocky), it is recommended to feed the plant in May with compost or wood ash. Application rates – 7-10 kg and 500 g per 1 sq. m respectively.
- For the winter, it is advisable to cover black mint with any material – branches or fallen leaves.
- If you need to update the bush, it is recommended to completely cut the shoots at the beginning of the growing season. However, do not do this less than a month before flowering.
- Every 4 years it is required to change the place where peppermint is grown.
Pests and diseases
Despite the abundance of active elements and essential oils in plant juices, it can be susceptible to attack by pathogens. Fortunately for the gardener, their number is small. Peppermint can only be seriously threatened by powdery mildew and rust.
Both diseases are fungal and are treated with antifungal drugs. However, if in order to get rid of powdery mildew, it is enough to remove the affected leaves and parts of the stems, and treat the plants for prevention with Bordeaux mixture, then in the case of rust, everything will be a little more complicated.
Processing also begins with the removal of the affected parts of the plant, but spraying is carried out with special means (for example, Trichophyte or Topaz) once a week.
When and how to harvest black mint
Black peppermint should be harvested during its flowering period, when the concentration of aromatic substances in it is maximum. Time does not play a special role – the main thing is that the plant blooms. Cutting leaves and inflorescences should be done in dry and sunny weather.
In itself, the collection is quite simple: most often the stems are cut entirely about 1/3 of their height from the root. This makes it much easier to store mint and process it. At any time, leaves or inflorescences can be separated from the stem.
How to dry black mint
Drying of mint is carried out in well-ventilated rooms, where cut bunches of stems with leaves are hung. Drying of plants laid out on sheets of paper is allowed. Usually, the whole stem with leaves and inflorescences is dried, and only before packing for storage can the plant be divided into parts.
Store black mint in cloth bags in crushed form. You can use hermetically sealed containers, but they won’t help much in retaining the smell. The menthol in mint itself degrades over time due to the presence of a trans-oriented isopropyl group in it. However, in a closed space, a strong mint smell lasts 1-2 months longer.
Conclusion
Black mint is a plant of artificial origin. It is a bushy herb with a strong menthol flavor. It is mainly used in cooking, as an additive to drinks. It can also be used as an independent additive or as a component of a mixture of several seasonings for the first and second courses. In folk medicine, peppermint is used as a remedy for colds and diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
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