Mentha Tunisienne

The Tunisian Mint is a variety whose wrinkled leaves give off a pronounced fragrance. This hardy, perennial herbaceous plant can be grown in open ground or in a pot. It will reach a height of 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24in). Its leaves will flavor your raw vegetables, grilled dishes, sauces, desserts, or infusions. Plant in spring or autumn, harvest from March to October.

Mint is an aromatic bushy plant with highly fragrant foliage. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm. Preferably plant it in a semi-shaded area, although Mint can practically grow anywhere. It is a perennial plant that will be cultivated for two or three years as beyond that, it tends to exhaust itself and become less productive. Choose carefully the place where you want to plant it: Mint spreads very quickly thanks to its trailing roots. You can also grow it in a pot, which allows you to control its spread. It is ideal to install in the vegetable garden as Mint is known to repel unwanted insects from the garden, such as aphids and ants, as well as some rodents. As for leaf harvesting, it can be done throughout the year, mainly from March to October.

There are many varieties of Mint, the most well-known being spearmint, peppermint, pennyroyal, and lemon balm. Depending on the varieties, the leaves will offer you a whole range of fragrances. In cooking, use them from appetizers to desserts, to flavor salads and raw vegetables, summer grills, yogurt-based sauces, or fruits. The leaves are also delicious in infusion, in tea or hot chocolate.

Harvest: Pick the leaves as you need them. Choose the largest leaves and cut the complete stem to promote regrowth. Preferably harvest in the morning to make the most of the aromatic qualities of mint. If you want to dry the leaves, pick the stems before flowering.

Storage: The ideal is to consume the freshly cut leaves. If you don't use the fresh leaves, dry the stems and then store the leaves in a tightly closed jar, away from light.

The gardener's tip: If you want to grow mint in the vegetable garden while limiting its spread, plant it in a pot and bury the pot in the middle of your garden! Choose a large enough pot and regularly divide the clumps in autumn or spring.