Spearmint Tea Recipe

You probably associate spearmint with gum or mints, but one of the most beneficial and enjoyable ways to enjoy this medicinal herb is by brewing a simple spearmint infusion. This spearmint tea recipe is one you’ll go back to again and again for its subtly sweet and refreshing flavor. And in addition to the taste, you’ll be getting a host of health benefits.

Spearmint is an antioxidant-rich plant packed with compounds that support your mood, brain and digestion, and which may even help balance your hormone levels. Many women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) use spearmint tea as a natural remedy. Multiple small studies done over the past two decades have found that just two cups of spearmint tea daily may help rebalance hormone levels in the body, which may help alleviate PCOS symptoms.

Naturally caffeine-free, spearmint contains compounds that can help relieve digestive upset and promote relaxation by interacting with GABA receptors in the brain. These unwinding and digestive effects make spearmint tea one of our favorite after-dinner drinks. So grab a teapot or infuser and get brewing to take advantage of the health benefits and refreshing taste of this super simple spearmint tea recipe

Spearmint Tea Ingredients

• Dried spearmint leaves: The dried leaves have a fresh, minty flavor that’s less potent than peppermint leaves, but with a touch of sweetness. You can use peppermint if you can’t find spearmint, but this swap will give your tea a much more intense minty flavor.

How to Make Spearmint Tea

Step 1: Steep the spearmint leaves

In a saucepan or teapot, bring water to a boil. Remove it from the heat, add spearmint leaves and let the leaves steep for five minutes.

Step 2: Strain and enjoy the spearmint tea

Strain the tea into a teacup or mug.

Editor’s Tip: Before adding the leaves to the pot, gently rub them between your fingers to release the oils and infuse more flavor and beneficial compounds into your tea.

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

Spearmint Tea Variations

• Add citrus: While the spearmint leaves are steeping, add a slice or two of lemon to add a bright burst of flavor.
• Go with ginger: To boost the digestive benefits of this tea while adding a warming, spicy kick of flavor, add a few slices of fresh gingerroot or a ginger teabag to the water.
• Enjoy it iced: Brew this tea as directed, but let it cool and pour it over ice to make a refreshing mint iced tea.
• Make spearmint green tea: Brewing your spearmint leaves with green tea will give your drink a powerful antioxidant boost and a little caffeine kick.

How to Store Spearmint Tea

While this tea is best when enjoyed straight away, you can brew a big batch to drink throughout the day, saving yourself some time and dishes. Store any leftover spearmint tea in a covered container in the refrigerator. Just pour it into a pot and reheat it, or add it to a microwave-safe mug and warm it in the microwave to your desired temperature. Or, just pour the tea over ice to make spearmint iced tea.

How long does spearmint tea last?

For the best flavor, drink spearmint tea within 24 to 48 hours after brewing it. Remove any plant matter, as leaving the mint leaves in the tea for too long may make it taste bitter.

Spearmint Tea Tips

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

Can you use fresh mint for tea?

If you have fresh mint leaves in your herb garden, they make a potent and flavorful tea that’s hard to beat! To use fresh instead of dried mint, add about a tablespoon of fresh mint leaves to water just off the boil and let them steep for five minutes. Use a spoon and gently muddle the leaves in the water to help release their oils and flavor.

Can you dry fresh mint for tea?

To take advantage of your mint harvest, you can easily dry fresh mint to enjoy in mint tea all year long. Air-drying helps preserve the quality of the plant but takes the longest. To air-dry your mint leaves, harvest around a third of the plant and either tie the ends up in a bunch or lay the leaves flat on a drying screen until the leaves are thoroughly dried.

You can also dry mint leaves by preheating the oven to 120°F or its lowest setting and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the mint leaves flat on the parchment paper and place them in the oven. Keep them in the oven for one to two hours, frequently shaking the pan and flipping the leaves until they are curled and dry.