About Mint Uses, Pairings and Recipes

With a variety of mint uses, try adding spearmint for a cool touch to delicious mint recipes like desserts, drinks, stews and more.

MOST POPULAR TYPES OF MINT

Spearmint: Widely used in cooking, spearmint features slender, green leaves that carry a subtle hint of sweetness with a refreshing aroma. Spearmint possesses a milder taste compared to peppermint and lacks the presence of menthol, an oil that’s responsible for a cooling sensation.

Peppermint: Commonly used in teas and desserts, peppermint is a bold-flavored hybrid of spearmint and water mint. Peppermint features a menthol concentration of about 40%, which produces a sharper taste that borders on spicy.

FEATURES & BENEFITS OF MINT

Provides a cooling flavor that’s a refreshing contrast to hot or spicy dishes
Mint leaves complement the rich flavor of savory dishes and add a boost of flavor to salsas or fruit salads
This herb is incredible versatile and can be incorporated into desserts, drinks and various meals

CAN YOU EAT MINT LEAVES?

Absolutely! Both raw and cooked mint leaves are typically safe to eat. To help preserve flavor and texture, add mint leaves toward the end of the cooking process.

HOW TO STORE MINT

If you’re lucky enough to have fresh herb mint on hand, try storing it with one of these methods:

Option 1:

Wrap mint leaves in dampened paper towels
Place the wrapped mint in a zip-top bag, partially sealed
Store in the refrigerator

Option 2:

Trim the ends of the stems and place them in a glass filled with about 1 inch of water
Loosely cover the mint with a plastic bad

If it’s off-season or you don’t have fresh mint available, grab a jar of McCormick GourmetTM Organic Mint.

HOW LONG DO SPICES LAST?

While dried herbs and spices typically last for 1–2 years, there are some exceptions worth noting when it comes to the shelf life of spices. Maintain the freshness of your spices and herbs with these helpful storage tips.

FLAVORS THAT GO WITH MINT:

Add some more flavor to your meals with these herbs and spices that pair well with mint, including:

Oregano: In Greek, oregano means “joy of the mountain." Even though it's super popular today, it actually wasn't wasn’t widely used in the U.S. until GIs returned from Italy during World War II. Our pure oregano is a delicious addition to any tomato dish, eggs and omelets, chicken, fish and pork, cooked vegetables, vinaigrettes and more. Consider it your go-to herb for that real Mediterranean flavor.
Thyme: The plant’s tiny leaves—just a quarter inch at most in length—must be carefully harvested, cleaned, dried and milled to retain their rich color, piney aroma and earthy flavor. In the ancient world, thyme was a symbol of courage and bravery. One of the highest compliments to pay a Greek warrior, for instance, was to say he smelled of thyme. And in the Middle Ages, thyme was used to fend off nightmares. Today, our pure thyme holds its greatest place of honor in the kitchen as one of our most popular herbs.
Cilantro: The bright bold flavor of cilantro makes its home in the kitchens of Mexico, India, China and Southeast Asia. Add to stir-fries, salsa, guacamole, fajitas and curries.
Paprika: McCormick sources whole paprika pepper pods from farmers in warm, dry climates. The paprika grown and bottled by McCormick is nothing but the purest. Paprika is a New World spice, meaning it didn’t take hold in Europe until the 1600s, where it was introduced to Europeans by Bulgarians and Turks. Perhaps best known as the garnish on deviled eggs, our pure paprika has a world of other uses. Use it as an addition to soups, rubs, marinades, sauces and more.
Basil: Sweet and fragrant basil complements tomato-based dishes including pizza, pasta and marinara sauce. It also pairs well with vegetable, chicken, pork or seafood.

GRAB YOUR MINT PRODUCTS!

AND TRY THESE RECIPES THAT USE MINT:

Want to create a meal plan for your mint recipes? Need help planning your weekly meals and want to try new recipes? Save your favorite food, dessert, drink recipes and organize your ingredients with the McCormick Meal Planner.