Peppermint Delivery or Pickup

Peppermint is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint. It's indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, but it only appears in the wild occasionally. Most peppermint is grown domestically, and people use it all over the world. It's one of the oldest medicinal and culinary herbs, and it has a stronger, more minty taste than other types of mint. Before the American Revolution, people often made peppermint tea because it wasn't taxed by the British like tea leaves. They called it liberty tea.

Peppermint has tiny pink or white flowers that bloom in spherical groups in summer or early fall. It often grows beside places with plenty of water, and it's sterile because it's a hybrid. However, it can still reproduce vegetatively from cuttings. Peppermint's strong scent keeps many insects away, and people often plant it in organic gardens. However, it grows so quickly that some gardeners consider it a weed.

Peppermint is available from various stores through Instacart all year, and you can find it fresh, dried, or as an extract or oil! Fresh peppermint leaves should look healthy and crisp, and the stems are sometimes purple or reddish. Avoid fresh peppermint that looks wilted or discolored. Dried peppermint looks a lot like dried oregano, but it should still have a minty scent.

Peppermint oil, also called peppermint essential oil, comes from the crushed leaves of the plant, and people often use it in aromatherapy, creams, and lotions. Peppermint extract is peppermint oil diluted with alcohol, and people often use it to add flavor to cooking. Peppermint extract is a common flavoring in ice cream, cookies, cakes, pies, and many other desserts. Alcohol infused with peppermint that's meant for cocktails is popular as well. Peppermint schnapps has a strong mint flavor and a high alcohol content, and creme de menthe has a less minty flavor and more sugar.

Fresh peppermint tastes great in salads, smoothies, and drinks. You can make a simple salad with peppermint leaves, cucumbers, red onion, honeydew melon, tomato, garlic, and lime juice. For a smoothie that tastes like a milkshake, combine almond or coconut milk, cocoa powder, banana, spinach, maple syrup, and peppermint leaves. You can also use frozen banana and pineapple, peppermint leaves, lime juice, and water.

If you're planning to make cocktails with mint leaves, use spearmint, which has far less menthol than peppermint. A mint julep contains crushed spearmint leaves, bourbon, and simple syrup. You can also make a mojito with spearmint leaves, lime juice, white rum, simple syrup, and club soda.

To add peppermint flavor to candy or baked goods, start with half a teaspoon of peppermint extract. You can add more for a stronger mint flavor. Use fresh or dried peppermint in salad dressing, pesto sauce, curries, or meat sauces. Peppermint is delicious with casseroles, vegetables, or peppermint tea as well. Peppermint sauce is sometimes called mint or peppermint jelly, and its sweet, cooling, and refreshing flavor contrasts well with savory, spicy dishes.

To make your day less stressful and save valuable time, order your peppermint and peppermint products with the Instacart app! You can make your selection from anywhere with your computer or smartphone in just a few minutes. Then, an experienced Instacart shopper will bring your purchase to you on the same day, or you can pick up your order at a store nearby! Using Instacart to choose your peppermint is easy, and it lets you focus on relaxing and spending time with friends or family members.