Peppermint
Peppermint is the herb that makes your mouth feel like it opened a window, and ancient Egyptians liked it enough to leave it in their tombs. A classic carminative and cooling herb, it's traditionally used to support easy digestion, settle a bloated, gassy belly and refresh a foggy head. Herbalists also value its bright, energizing lift for focus and its cooling touch on hot, tense days. It's crisp, it's cool, and it never takes the elevator when the stairs are faster.
Find it in:
- Botanical nameMentha × piperita
- Plant familyLamiaceae (mint family)
- Also calledMint, brandy mint
- Part usedDried leaf and powdered leaf
- TasteCool, bright and sharp, with a sweet finish
- CaffeineNone
Traditional Uses & Folklore
An ancient favorite
Mint has been prized since ancient times. Dried mint leaves have been found in Egyptian tombs, and the Greeks and Romans wore mint crowns at feasts and rubbed it on tables to welcome guests. In Greek myth, the nymph Minthe was turned into the herb by a jealous Persephone. Her consolation was smelling amazing forever.
A modern hybrid
Peppermint itself is a natural cross between watermint and spearmint. It was first formally described in England in the late 1600s and quickly became a favorite of apothecaries for upset stomachs and headaches. Peppermint oil is still one of the world's most widely used flavorings.
The after-dinner herb
Across cultures, a cup of mint tea or a sprig of mint after a meal is a classic digestive ritual, from the sweet mint tea of North Africa to after-dinner mints. Herbalists also use it as a cooling herb for hot, sticky days and heavy, foggy heads.
The scienceWhat Modern Research Is Exploring
Peppermint is one of the better-studied herbs, though much of the research uses peppermint oil rather than tea. Here's what researchers are looking at:
- Digestion. Clinical trials of peppermint oil capsules have found encouraging results for digestive discomfort, including bloating and cramping.
- Headaches. Peppermint oil applied to the temples has been studied for tension headaches.
- Focus. Small studies have looked at peppermint's scent and its effects on alertness and mental energy.
We share this to show where the conversation is going, not to make promises. Herbalism is slow medicine, built on ritual, consistency, and how a plant feels in your own body.
From Tea LadyWhy Peppermint Is in Our Blends
Peppermint is our cool kid. In Happy Gut Tea, it's cooling and refreshing, traditionally used to support healthy digestion. In Glow Up Tea, it adds a crisp finish that makes every sip feel invigorating. And in Peppermint Pleasure Cocoa, it's cool, sharp and delicious, just the lift that blend needs to sparkle.
Sip mindfullySafety & Who Should Check First
Peppermint is a common food and tea herb and is generally considered safe in tea-sized amounts. A few things to keep in mind:
- Heartburn. Peppermint can relax the valve between the stomach and esophagus, so it may make heartburn or reflux worse.
- Gallbladder. If you have gallstones or gallbladder issues, check with your healthcare provider before drinking peppermint regularly.
- Little ones. Peppermint oil shouldn't be used on or near the faces of babies and young children.
- Pregnancy. Peppermint tea is generally considered gentle, but check with your healthcare provider if you're pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
Sources & Further Reading
- McKay DL, Blumberg JB. "A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.)." Phytotherapy Research, 2006; 20(8): 619–633.
- Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, et al. "The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data." BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019; 19(1): 21.