Mentha piperita

A hybrid of spearmint and water mint. It has deep red stems, red-tinged long leaves and small, violet colored flowers. This is the strongest of all the mint varieties, containing the most menthol, and it is widely grown on a commercial basis for a variety of medicinal and cosmetic uses, such as toothpaste. It is often grown for its oil and is one of the most important essential oils. Peppermint thrives in a fairly warm, moist climate and prefers open textured, well drained soils. It is fairly resistant to garden pests, although it can be damaged by caterpillars and grasshoppers.

Uses: As a flavoring in confectionery, such as after-dinner mints and chocolates, and is also know as brandy mint because it is the mint used in crème de menthe. Its leaves make a refreshing herbal tea.

Legends: Rats dislike peppermint. When clearing a building of rats, exterminators block up many of the rodents´ escape exits with rags soaked in oil of peppermint.