I first bought mint a few years ago. And while I was warned that it quickly multiplies, I didnt heed the warnings because I thought it’d make good filler while I waited to afford more substantial plants. Now I’m swamped with more mint than I can possibly use, so I researched some ways to use use it.
1. Add mint to iced tea. Just use a few sprigs along with the tea bags while it seeps. Then place some in each glass for garnish. Also try Mint Tea Punch.
2. Make hot mint tea. Dry the mint. Then use it as a loose-leaf tea, either by itself or in addition to another base tea (like black or green tea).
3. Make alcoholic beverages with mint. Here are some to get you started: Classic Mojito, Mint Julep Martini, Double Apple Mojito, Citrus Tequila Cocktail, plus many more recipes use mint for garnish only.
4. Add mint to smoothies & shakes. Apple & Avocado Smoothie, Minty Fresh, Mint & Fruit Smoothie.
5. Look for baking & cooking recipes that use mint. Baked Apples with Mint, Mint & Cilantro Melon Salad, Limehouse Chicken, Mango Pineapple Salad with Mint, Mint Pesto Pasta, Minted Lemon Asparagus.
6. Make frozen chocolate covered mint leaves. I tried this one asap when I first saw it from Martha Stewart. They’re beautiful & tasty on top ice cream!
7. Add mint to floral bouquets. It smells great!
8. Make mint bath salts. Dry your mint & add it to a bath salt recipe. When you use it in the tub, keep the salts in a porous bag or wrapped piece of fabric if you don’t want to clean up mint afterwards.
9. Get crafty with pressed mint leaves. You can press & dry the leaves (maybe some flowers too) and add them to greeting cards or other items.
10. Freshen your compost. You’ll still probably have too much mint, so compost what you can’t use or give away.
Do you have other ideas or recipes? Let us know!
I just ripped out a huge patch of mint last year and only saved a little. Before I got rid of what I had I also had too much! One way I used it was to put a few sprigs in my ice water pitcher over night. It was a really refreshing drink on hot summer days.
Another recipe that uses mint is tabouleh. http://mideastfood.about.com/od/soupssalads/r/taboulehrecipe.htm this is a family favorite in the summer.
I use mint – chocolate mint – to make chocolate mint candy. You will need a dehydrater, small food brush, powdered eggs, and powdered sugar/stevia. I make up 2-3 eggs from powdered eggs, brush it on the mint leaves, and add crushed stevia or if you prefer sugar. Don’t bother in buying the powdered sugar, I use my herb grinder (coffee grinder that never sees coffe) to powder the sugar.
Put the mint leaves with the egg and sugar in the dehydrator until the leaves are crisp. It makes a yummy snack!