Peppermint is a hybrid member of the deadnettle or mint family that originated in Europe, from which it escaped cultivation and established itself throughout most of the world. The plant is so successful in its spread that it is considered invasive in Australia, New Zealand and in the United States, particularly in the Great Lakes region.
This herb is highly versatile in the kitchen and home. The leaf is used to make teas, tisanes, infusions and tinctures. Infused in oil or tinctured in alcohol, peppermint leaf lends fragrance and a mentholated quality to skin care products. Peppermint also yields a natural green dye.
