Ingredient guide / Culinary herbs
Mint: flavour, uses and substitutes
Fresh, gently sweet and cooling in character; this entry means spearmint.
Mentha spicata
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Three identifying features
- Toothed pointed oval leaves
- Green opposite leaf pairs
- Recognisable mint scent
Fresh or dried?
Use fresh for salads and dips; dried mint gives a different aromatic effect.
When should it go into the pan?
For a fresh note, cut and add at the end.
What does it go with?
Peas, yoghurt, couscous, lamb and fruit.
Cuisines & dish ideas
Try a Levantine-style couscous salad, British mint sauce or a fresh yoghurt dip.
What can replace it?
Lemon balm adds lemon rather than a mint flavour.
How should it be stored?
Wrap fresh sprigs and refrigerate; keep dried leaves sealed and dark.
Recipes using it
The ingredient list names this herb or spice. Check the recipe for fresh or dried form and quantity.
Sources and notes
Sources
- NC State Extension · Mentha spicata · Accessed 2026-10-25
- BZfE · How-to Kräuter · Accessed 2026-10-25
Image: AI-generated (OpenAI). Image note: The illustrations were created with AI. They show culinary ingredients and are not a guide to identifying wild plants.