Basil Mint !NEW!
The mints consist of mostly spreading and low growing perennial plants. The height range is from 10 cm to 1 meter, so not all are at ground level. Mint plants send out runners, or stolons, to help them spread by developing roots and shoots at the nodes. This allows plants to cover up to 1 meter in stem growth, in good conditions. They are all fast growing plants and due to the spreading nature, one plant is often sufficient for most gardeners. Some mints can be invasive and it is recommended that containers or in ground barriers be used. Mints can suffer from some pests like snails and aphids and may be affected by mint rust. Rust Free Mint may also be a useful addition to the garden in addition to the many other varieties.
basil mint
Most mint plants have square stems, with leaves held in opposite pairs. They are often downy with a serrated margin, with a variable leaf shape and colours ranging from green to purple. The flowers are usually white to purple and present in false whorls or verticillaster or false whorl. The corolla is usually two lipped and has 4 lobes, with the upper lobe usually the largest.
Mint plants come from across the globe and will grow in most climates, including a wide range of regions across Australia. Some are annual varieties, but in cool climate zones perennial mints may best be treated as annuals and replaced each year. Generally they have high water requirements and prefer rich soils. Mint is grown commercially in Tasmania due to the ideal conditions of long summer days in high altitudes, where temperatures average 25C during the day to 15C at night. Ideal conditions usually require full sun, but part shade may be necessary as temperatures increase in warm summer regions.
Most mints have a history of traditional medicinal or herbal use for fevers, headaches and minor ailments. These plants are often used as a digestive aid in the form or herbal tea. The essential oil is also antiseptic and may be toxic in very high doses. They should be avoided by pregnant women and must not be given, or placed next to the face of babies and young children, due to the potential for breathing difficulties associated with menthol.
Mint hybridizes very easily, so there are many varieties available to suit any garden. In fact, if you have mixed plants some may hybridize in your own garden. The most popular choices are Spearmint, Peppermint and Applemint. However, many varieties in our collection, such as Ginger Mint, Eau de Cologne, Chocolate Mint and many others are also becoming well known.
Basil Mint is easy to grow, very disease resistant and heavy yielding, so it should do well in most regions. It is a viable choice for people who find Basil hard to grow. It prefers part shade to full sun, most soils and has moderate water requirements. As the plant ages the stems may become woody. These may be removed with pruning, encouraging new growth. This is a very strong growing variety of mint, so container growing is recommended to reduce the opportunity for it to spread too far.
Medicinal uses for Basil Mint are similar to other mints, but this is not the primary reason for growing many of the alternative culinary mints. It may be used to make a tea that will help as a digestive aid, used as a treatment for headaches and fevers, throat gargles and as an insect repellent. Like other mints Basil Mint will have antiseptic properties.
Basil Mint may sound like a wild combination, but trust us on this one, it works. We co-ferment hundreds of pounds of fresh basil and fresh mint along with our signature blend of fresh-pressed Washington apples to develop a bold and beautiful cider that comes through with big basil notes on the nose, and nuanced notes of basil and mint on the palate.
Please bring back the Basil Mint, we love it and usually keep three going at a time in our house. We have not been able to get it for awhile now and have tried several others and they are too minty or just don't smell good. We have a home bar and it smells perfect in there, blends in with all the bitters and fresh fruit& herbs used to garnish cocktails.
This wellness candle in mint and basil is a nice sized candle. The scent made my living room smell great. The scent was fresh and clean! I really enjoy how the jar looks on my mantle. Its a very stylish jar! I would love to try the other scents as well.
Amazon delivered the Basil Mint scented charcoal deodorant yesterday and I used it this morning on my underarm before beginning my 4-mile run. Never before have I smelled SO GOOD after a run. I usually have to change immediately and here I am - 5 hours later - smelling like mint!!!
I love this deodorant! It not only smells amazing, it really works. Zero odor...ever! Even after intense workouts. I will never switch. All the scents are great, but this one is my favorite. It's minty and herbal all at the same time; super refreshing.
This easy recipe for Basil Mint Dressing is full of sweet and peppery basil, refreshing mint, and tart lemon. This homemade herb dressing is excellent to have on hand to brighten up salads and use as a dip or marinade for your favorite protein.
Basil Mint Pesto is a flavorful take on the classic pesto with fresh mint leaves added to it. Make this versatile sauce in under 5 minutes using simple ingredients (vegetarian, gluten-free).
Basil Mint Pesto is a flavorful and fresh sauce made using fresh basil, mint leaves, and a handful of other ingredients. It is a slight variation of the classic basil pesto with mint leaves added along with basil leaves.
The alcohol and paraben-free formula has been created with triple proteins and aloe to help define your style, while hydrolyzed proteins build strength from the inside out. Basil, sage, sunflower, and peppermint oils combine in perfect botanical harmony for optimum performance.
This Basil & Mint hand soap will quickly become a favorite in your home. Clean and invigorating, this mix of mint & basil wil bring your herb garden indoors in any time of year! Deeply cleansing without drying out skin this hand soap not only cleans but creates a fragrant lather on the hands.
I love the stuff. It's bright and fresh and, here in North Carolina, it grows pretty much all year long. We can have the worst winter weather, then a day or two of warm sunshine and there's my beloved mint, poking up it's perky little green leaves as if to say "Hello world, hope still abounds in the herb garden!".
Scott .... not so much. My beautiful mint would probably be described by him as a nuisance rather than a (culinary) necessity, as it is to me. He calls it an "invasive weed". It creeps, without permission, into his lovely verdant grass and knows no bounds in his tomato and flower gardens. Being the resident gardener, he's forever trying to control it's exuberant, voracious growth, and there's even been a time or two that he's tried to permanently extinguish my little herb friend. (He probably wouldn't admit this, but I know it's true.) He and mint have just never seen eye to eye.
Thank you Chris for posting the mint basil syrup recipe. I had the pleasure of having lunch at the Apple Pie Bakery at the Culinary Institute Of America in Hyde Park NY last year and had a fabulous rice pudding with a heavenly lime and basil sauce at the bottom of it. I can't wait to tweak your recipe and see if I can come close to it! I do enjoy all your posts and every recipe I have tried has been a winner! Do you have a restaurant in Raleigh?
This has become a family favorite! The first time I made this, I mistakenly used equal amounts of mint and basil (blame my poor eye sight!) - 1/2 cup each. It was FABULOUS even with the stronger basil notes. I've since made it both ways -- Chris's original plus my *mistake*. Both are wonderful. We served the stronger basil version over fresh strawberries and got rave reviews.
Love your blog, Chris. So glad I caught your comment on Sue's VFGI.I read your older post of the "I Want to Marry You" cookies. Your family values are stellar! Cheering your wisdom ?I hope to try this recipe once we get some mint to grow in a pot on our deck.Do you have spearmint or peppermint?I guess either would work; but, do you have a preference?Your corn chowder sounds amazing and the pesto swirl and garnishes in those lotus bowls is beautiful.I'll be back!
I am definitely making this pretty green concoction..as soon as the rooted basil I planted outdoors starts to thrive..Hope it works..the roots were ginormous:-)Thanks so much for that fun tip.
Toast the walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant. Allow to cool completely, and add to the bowl of a food processor, along with the basil, mint, parmesan, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.
Yes! Not only is basil mint tea delicious, but basil and mint are herbs known to have several health benefits. *Always consult your doctor before using herbs. Herbs can have adverse effects when used with certain conditions and medications*
Peppermint is known to calm the nerves of the digestive tract which makes it useful when experiencing abdominal cramps and indigestion. A cup of peppermint/spearmint tea can be used to alleviate symptoms of colds by loosening up mucous and phlegm. Use caution if you have heartburn or GERD, as mint can make these conditions worse.
Place the mint, basil, and water in a sealed container (like a big glass jar), and leave the jar in a sunny spot for four to six hours, or until you think the tea is strong enough. Strain out the leaves, add the sweetener, and serve with ice. Garnish with extra mint leaves if you're feeling fancy! 041b061a72