Spearmint

Identity

Common Name

Spearmint

Scientific Name

Mentha spicata

Botanical Family

Lamiaceae

Native Region

Mediterranean and western Asia

Cultivation Regions

Europe, Mediterranean, North America, worldwide (temperate)

Plant Parts Used

Leaves

Synonyms

Garden Mint, Nana Mint, Curly Mint

Caffeine Level

Caffeine Free

A bright green upright herb with opposite serrated lance-shaped leaves on square stems and slender spikes of small pale lilac-pink tubular flowers; the leaves are the part used.

Historical Background

Spearmint has been a Mediterranean and European culinary and digestive mint for millennia, prized for its sweeter, gentler flavor than peppermint. A classic in Moroccan mint tea and after-meal infusions, its bright leaves brew a refreshing, caffeine-free cup.

Earliest recorded uses: Mediterranean and European traditions for millennia; a culinary and digestive mint.

Traditional Uses

These uses document historical traditions and do not imply proven effectiveness.

Flavor & Aroma

Aroma: Fresh, sweet, minty, slightly fruity

Tea Information

Research Summary

Spearmint has a tradition for digestion and mild calming; small trials suggest modest hormonal effects (anti-androgen) at high doses. It is not a treatment for digestive disorders, PCOS, or any disease, though it remains a popular, gentle everyday tea.

Evidence levels reflect the currently available scientific literature and may change as new research emerges. Where evidence is limited or conflicting, this is stated plainly.

References & Sources