Apple Mint, Japanese mint
Mentha arvensis

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb with stalks that lie along the ground and only slightly curve up. The plant can be 10-60 cm long. The leaves are toothed and hairy. The are narrowly oval. They can be 7.5 cm long. The flowers are lilac, pink or white. They are at the top of the plant and in rings.

There are 25 Mentha species. It possibly has anti-cancer properties. It has 9.2 mg per 100 g dry weight and 4.9 mg fresh weight of alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp soils and along shores. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 1,200-2,300 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-9

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Congo DR, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Europe, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Siberia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, West Indies, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a flavouring. They can be used to flavour corn meal or in baking fish. The fresh or dried leaves can be used to make tea. It can yield an essential oil used to flavour sweets and drinks. The flowers are used to make a herbal tea.

Edible parts

Leaves, spice, leaves - tea, flowers

How it is grown

It is grown from stem cuttings. The runners root easily at the nodes. It can be grown from seeds but this is difficult. A spacing of 20-40 cm is suitable.

The first harvest of leaves can occur after 45-60 days.

Its other names

Local names

Akermynte, Asli podena, Baabaree, Bai saranae, Bettada pudina, Bijanggut, Bo he, Bujanggut, Chetni maragu, Chi angkam, Corn mint, Daun pudina, Field mint, Janggat, Kir nanesi, Menta selvatica, Namplane, Ndamba, Padamchal, Pakwana, Patena, Paudina, Podna, Podina, Pohok, Pokok kepari, Po'o, Pudina, Shinshobai, Xiang hua cai

Synonyms

Mentha parietariifolia Becker ex Steud.; Mentha austriaca Jacq; Mentha arvensis L. var. piperascens Malinv.) Mentha canadensis; Mentha gentilis L.; and very many others