Spearmint Delivery or Pickup

Spearmint is a hardy perennial plant that is native to Asia and Europe. Today, it is also grown in North America and some parts of Africa. Mint leaves are fragrant and light green with serrated edges, and they grow opposite each other along the square stalk. Chefs use spearmint to flavor a wide variety of dishes, from ice cream and cookies to salads, soups, and sauces. 

Spearmint is available in grocery stores year-round in the fresh produce section, often packaged in small plastic containers. You may also be able to find spearmint at your local farmer's market during the summer months.

Regardless of when or where you buy your fresh spearmint, look for leaves that are not wilted or discolored. It's a good idea to perform a smell test, too. Wilted mint leaves may still be good as long as they still have a strong mint smell. Moldy or mushy mint leaves should be discarded or composted.

If you've struggled to find fresh herbs in your local grocery store, Instacart can help! Place your grocery order through the Instacart app, and our experienced shoppers will do the rest. If the store is sold out of fresh spearmint, our shoppers will suggest substitutions that may suit your needs. You can even get same-day delivery on your order, right to your door!

Fresh herbs tend to have a fairly short shelf life once picked. However, you can take a few steps to help your mint last longer. Refrigerating, freezing, or drying the mint are all great options.

Spearmint and peppermint differ in both their appearance and taste. As the "pepper" in its name suggests, peppermint has a stronger, almost spicy flavor. It contains more menthol than spearmint at roughly 40%, which gives it a more potent mint flavor. Peppermint leaves are dark green and smooth instead of the spear-shaped light-green leaves that give spearmint its name.

Spearmint has a subtler, almost sweet flavor that comes from the chemical carvone rather than menthol. The menthol content of spearmint is very low, at 0.5%, which means spearmint doesn't have the same strong cooling effect associated with peppermint. Where peppermint often complements sweet recipes, spearmint tends to appear in savory dishes.

Spearmint has several medicinal uses and health benefits. Spearmint tea, for instance, is an extremely low-calorie beverage that contains vitamin C, antioxidants, and iron. This tea is often touted as a way to promote memory, digestion, and relaxation. Spearmint oil contains chemicals that may help reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, alter hormone levels, and damage cancer cells. This oil can also be used in aromatherapy to help alleviate nausea.

Early research has shown that the carvone in spearmint behaves similarly to the active ingredients in high blood pressure medication. Spearmint may also be able to help lower blood sugar and improve memory. It contains antioxidants that are often associated with reducing the risk of illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

If a recipe does not specify a type of mint, then the choice is up to you. Your choice will affect the flavor of the dish, but either one will work.

For recipes that call for fresh mint, spearmint is more likely to be what the author intended. After all, spearmint is the variety most commonly sold fresh in grocery stores. Understanding the differences between spearmint and peppermint can help you choose the mint that best complements the recipes and suits your preferences.