MINT

MINT

LATIN NAME: MENTHA

HOMELAND: MEDITERRANEAN and the MIDDLE EAST

The most refreshing, most “revitalizing” plant of all time, MINT…

In historical records, mint first appears as the protagonist of a tragic love story in ancient Greek mythology. The beautiful water nymph Minthe (or Menthe) was the beloved of Hades, the god of the underworld. When Hades’ wife Persephone learned of the affair, in a fit of jealousy she trampled Minthe underfoot, transforming her into a plant. Though Hades could not fully restore his lover, he granted her one grace: that whenever she was crushed or stepped upon, she would release the most beautiful, refreshing scent. Thus mint was born; with every step, every broken leaf, its magnificent menthol aroma spreads far and wide. In ancient Greece and Rome, mint became a symbol both of that mythological sorrow and of freshness; it was used in baths, foods, wines, and medicine. Its cooling fragrance was known to clear the mind and soothe digestion.

Mint traditions passed from the Greco-Roman world to medieval Europe, and from there into Christian culture. In Christian folk beliefs and oral traditions, mint became one of the plants dedicated to the Virgin Mary; in some regions it was called “Mary’s Mint,” “Our Lady’s Plant,” “Menthe de Notre Dame,” or “St. Mary’s Herb.” According to legends, fragrant herbs like pennyroyal (a type of mint) that Joseph spread in the manger at Bethlehem bloomed with royal purple flowers at the moment of Jesus’ birth – a symbol of freshness and sacred peace. Another belief holds that during the Flight into Egypt, mint-like aromatic herbs provided coolness and protection to the Holy Family wherever Mary rested. In the Middle Ages, mint and similar herbs were strewn on church floors during funerals as an expression of devotion to Mary and spiritual refreshment. Thus mint came to symbolize both the freshness of Jesus’ birth and the tender maternal peace of Mary.

In medieval monastery gardens, it was indispensable; prized for both its medicinal and spiritual value. In the modern era, mint has taken center stage with its invigorating power – from teas and pastries to medicines and cosmetics. From the tragic love story of Greek mythology, through the sacred freshness of Christian legends, to becoming one of today’s most beloved aromas, mint has perhaps earned the title of the botanical world’s “most refreshing, most revitalizing” plant.