Peppermint

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Dried peppermint leaves to make a minty, refreshing drink that is highly satisfying both hot and cold. A native of the Mediterranean, peppermint leaves were often used to crown luminaries in ancient Greece and Rome. It continues to be revered for its refreshingly light aroma, as well as its natural, caffeine-free taste. If you have yet to try gourmet peppermint tea, you'll be pleasantly surprised by its superior flavor.

Indigenous to Europe and Asia, peppermint has been naturalized in North America and is found near streams and in other wet sites. It is cultivated for its essential oil . Natural hybridization among wild species has yielded many varieties of peppermint, but only two, the black and the white, are recognized by growers. The former has purplish and the latter green stems. Black peppermint, is extensively grown in the United States. The white variety is less hardy and less productive, but its oil is considered more delicate.