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Curly Mint

(Mentha spicata variety crispii.)

Curly Spearmint

Mint growing by farmers as a cash crop started in Connecticut
in the early part of the 18th century (roughly 1700 to 1730) !

Curly Mint is not a native.

It has naturalized in eastern North America (that's us) having escaped from gardens after being brought here from Europe. Originally from the Near East, the mints were so highly valued by anyone who knew them they quickly traveled across the continents with the traders.

The generic name Mentha was connected to the plant by a Greek philosopher-scientist 300 years before Christ. The Rodale Herb Book more or less says this guy based the connection on Greek mythology. Mintho, the story goes, was a beautiful nymph who was loved by Pluto, god of the underworld. Pluto's wife became jealous and turned Mintho into a plant!...(but at least it was a nice smelling plant).

Wads of mint leaves were used by ancient peoples to scrub tables with to make them smell nice...an early room deoderizer. Mints are used in many ways in food, both back then and now. Herbal uses of mint are still common. You can find mint tea on the grocery store shelf and the box will probably tell you it is good to settle an upset tummy. In India and other countries it is common to hang bunches of mint in a doorway as the scent is refreshing and cooling.

Botany.com came to my rescue on this particular plant as none of my books mentioned Curly Mint, the only common name I knew it by. This plant, they write, is valued more for its intricately curled, fringed leaves than for its fragrance.

The foliage is dark green and lightly splotched with a contrasting lighter green. They can grow up to 2 feet high and are invasive.

Chefs like Curly Mint for garnishes, but prefer the pleasant flavor of regular Spearmint and Peppermint.

Grow this Mint in full sun and moist, fertile soil. Cut the stems to the ground and take the 2 or 3 sets of terminal leaves for fresh use. Throw out the rest. This isn't a good Mint for drying or for use alone in teas. It should be used for garnishes, or if dried, as a filler in potpourris.

Transplant runners or potted plants in the spring or early fall.

Study pointers:

• Think of a store that sells candy. Now guess how many have mint in them. When you go there next time count the mint flavored candies and see how close you were. Do it in a big candy place like Shaws or Wal-Mart and like that.
  
• How much do you think a little bottle or box of dried mint leaves costs? How about a bottle of mint extract? You can find these in the baking aisle of your supermarket, near flour and sugar. Think of how much money changes hands for mint. ..and think of the farmers growing it.

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