Torrey's Mt. Mint

Learning about the wild plants growing on our property has been a hobby of my wife's for several years now. She has become quite knowledgeable.

My brother suggested some time ago that pictures of useful plants that grow wild would be helpful. I decided that he is correct, especially thinking about one of my purposes for writing this blog. Future generations who may live here could benefit from her knowledge of the wild plants growing all around, right under their nose. It will help me, also, to become more familiar with our useful plants.

Yesterday, on our walk, Lisa decided to pick some mint to make mint tea. The most abundant mint in Pure Water Hollow is a type of mountain mint called “Torrey's Mt. Mint.”




Here it is flipped over to show the purplish shade under its leaves.




This picture shows up the leaves purple underside compared to the green topside better:




Here is enough to make one good cup of tea.



It will bloom with white flowers this summer, but you can make tea with it anytime. It can be used fresh or dried and she saw that it was already growing fresh last month, in January. Those plants are now withered due to our February freeze, but there are plenty plants that are growing all around now.

All she does is crush up the leaves and make a tea bag out of cheese cloth. She then lets it steep in hot water for about 10 minutes and sweetens it with sugar or honey.

It was delicious!

1 comment
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sheryl on February 26, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I purchased a book called A Guide to the Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky. I want to use it for nature studies and journaling for school. Thanks for posting about the mint. You come up with so really good ideas for posting. Sheryl