Mint - Water

Botanical Name: Mentha aquatica

Family: Lamiaceae

Other Names: Hairy mint, marsh mint, wild mint

Habitat: Near streams, damp meadows, woods.

Description: Perennial Rough, hairy mint up to 60cm/2ft tall. Leaves tinged with purple, opposing pairs, short stalked, oval, toothed. Flowers blue/lilac bushy head July – September

Native to: Britain, Europe, and Asia

Cultivation: Full sun

Harvesting: Best as it just comes into flower

Parts Used: Herb

Actions: Astringent, emetic, stimulant

Constituents: Essential oil, tannins

Volatile oil: methofuran, menthol, menthyl acetate, beta caryophyllene, 1,8-cineole, germacrene-D, viridoflorol, linalool, pulegone

Polyphenols: rosmarinic acid

Culinary Uses: Chutney, tea, flavouring