I have two spearmint plants that I picked up because I read they can help with treating acne when made into tea. They've been growing well, but when I tried making tea with the leaves, it tasted more like vegetables—kind of a potato flavor and almost like fresh dirt. They don't have that classic minty taste at all! I've tasted the leaves fresh, and they don't taste minty either. I know the plants probably still have some benefits, but I'm curious if there's a way to use them differently or if I just have to accept that they won't taste minty like I expected. I've seen people mix spearmint into mojitos, but mine definitely don't smell or taste good enough for that. Am I doing something wrong?
1 Answer
It sounds like you might not actually have spearmint. If the plants don't have that signature minty aroma and flavor, there's a chance they could be a different herb altogether, like lemon balm, which can look quite similar. Maybe post a picture of your plant to get some help identifying it!
Definitely share a pic! It's easier for everyone to help you identify the plant that way.
Yeah, lemon balm does look a lot like spearmint! If it smells lemony, that's probably what you have.