The Amazing Benefits of Mint tea
What is Mint?
Mint plants can be easily distinguished by the fresh, cleansing scent emitted from their leaves. You may even be lucky enough to have some fresh mint growing in a pot or on a windowsill. But did you know there are 25 different types of mint in the Mint family? These include peppermint, spearmint and fieldmint which together make up our Three Mint blend.
Mint has been used for centuries to cool and soothe digestive upsets, helping both refresh you and settle digestion. Mint not only supports digestion but is also rich in aromatic menthol essential oils which ‘wake up’ the senses, as well as being relaxing. It’s no wonder mint is one of the most widely consumed herbal teas across the world.
So, why's Mint tea so special?
Mint Tea is a popular herbal tea, frequently used to make hot tea as well as iced tea. Mint tea has numerous traditional uses. There are many well-known mint tea benefits.
There is something about a refreshing cup of mint tea that can make even the worst day seem just a little brighter.
For many years, mint herbal teas have been believed to provide healing powers for both the body and the mind.
Like most herbal teas, all plants in the mint family are 100% free from caffeine.
The mint family is packed with aromatic essential oils, such as menthol, giving its distinctive scent and taste. These essential oils are also responsible for many beneficial effects, explaining the long traditional use of plants such as peppermint. Peppermint can be found in our Peppermint & Licorice, Mint Refresh, Cleanse and Three Mint herbal teas. Menthol has a soothing, cooling, and calming effect on the nervous system, respiratory and digestive systems. Field Mint, used in our Three Mint and Breathe in teas have the highest levels of amazing menthol.
Why is drinking mint tea good for you?
The cooling and calming health benefits of mint have been widely researched (1) and include:
Digestive support: Mint supports the digestion system by calming digestive cramping making you feel more comfortable after a meal.
Cognitive function: Mint has an uplifting effect, providing clarity to the mind. This is a good example of how helping your stomach can help your mind, as they are both responsible for ‘digesting’ our experiences. We include spearmint in our Peace tea
for this reason.
Hormonal health: Mint can help with women’s health issues by helping soothe menstrual cramping.
Clearing congestion: Mint is traditionally used in hot tea when we have a respiratory infection. While you drink the tea, make sure to inhale the steam coming off to help clear congestion.
How we grow our highest quality mint?
All our mint is grown organically and harvested sustainably from its favoured habitat, meaning our mint is brimming with herbal benefits. To create a wider diversity of growers, Pukka has been working with farmers in India to establish new organic field mint farmers beyond the traditional growing lands. Cultivating this herb in other regions saves water, reduces the crop’s carbon footprint, and increases the amount that can be grown.
We capture the benefits of fresh mint in a wide variety of our teas including our Three Mint, Peppermint and Licorice and Mint Refresh tea.
The fact that mint tea has a superb taste just makes the experience of drinking mint herbal tea all the more satisfying. Why not brew yourself a cup of mint tea now and see what it does for you?
Take time to explore the wonders of this herb yourself, with our guided walking meditation with mint.
Author: Dr Vivien Rolfe
Head of Herbal Research
Viv is a gut physiologist and has recently achieved a Foundation in Herbal Medicine. She leads Pukka’s research programme to explore how herbs can benefit our health and be used to widen healthcare choices. This includes research into herbs for Women’s health and as alternatives to antibiotics. She establishes global research partnerships and enthuses the next generation of scientists through Pukka’s Scholarship Scheme. She is a champion of diversity in science and open access to knowledge.
Qualifications:
BSc, PhD, PFHEA
Years of experience:
30+ years in the wellbeing industry and academia
Education:
Degree in Physiology University of Sheffield, PhD University of Sheffield, Foundation in Herbalism Heartwood, MBA Entrepreneurship (on-going) Edinburgh Napier University, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Professional Registrations:
Membership of Nutrition Society, Physiological Society, Society for Chemical Industry, and other herbal and botanical groups.