Mint Dust
Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills
- massage :
to rub or knead a food to tenderize (e.g., raw beef) or one food into another to infuse flavors (e.g., mint leaves into sugar or oil and salt into kale leaves).
- roll :
to use a rolling pin to flatten dough; use your hands to form a roll or ball shape; or move a round food, like a grape or a meatball, through another food, like sugar or breadcrumbs, to coat it.
Equipment Checklist
- Dry measuring cups
- Small bowl
Ingredients
Mint Dust
- 1/4 to 1/2 C sugar
- 1 to 2 fresh mint leaves
Instructions
Mint Dust
measure + massage
Measure 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar into a small bowl and add 1 to 2 mint leaves. Have your kids massage the mint leaves into the sugar, allowing the mint oils and flavor to infuse into the sugar. You can let the mint rest in the sugar for 5 to 10 minutes and even up to one week! You've made mint dust!
Hi! I'm Mint!
"I'm a green herb with a sweet, cool taste and pleasant aroma. You may have tasted me in gum and toothpaste, but my favorite is mint chocolate chip ice cream!"
History & Etymology
- With its fresh scent hard to miss, mint was undoubtedly one of the earliest herbs discovered. It has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 1,000 BCE and has been part of Chinese medicine even longer.
- Ancient Romans and Greeks used mint to flavor cordials and fruit compotes, as well as for baths and perfumes.
- Mexicans call mint "yerba buena" or "good herb."
- The United States produces over 70 percent of the world's peppermint and spearmint.
- The word "mint" comes from the Old English "minte," from German "minze," from the Greek "minthē."
Anatomy
- The mint plant is from the Mentha genus. It is an aromatic perennial herb. The plants can grow 4 to 48 inches tall and have runners below and above ground that can spread.
- There are 18 to 24 species of mint currently recognized. Other mints are natural hybrids and cultivated hybrids. Some herbs with "mint" names, like cat mint (catnip), are not part of the Mentha genus.
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is also known as common garden mint. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a natural hybrid cross between spearmint and watermint (Mentha aquatica).
How to Pick, Buy, & Use
- Mint is easy to grow at home or can be purchased at the grocery store. You can keep a bunch of fresh mint in a glass of water for up to two days.
- Mint is harvested for its leaves, fresh or dried, for many culinary uses to add a cool, refreshing flavor. Foods that mint is added to include beverages, candies, ice cream, jellies, meat dishes, sauces, syrups, and teas.
- Mint essential oil and menthol are added as flavoring to breath fresheners, candy, chocolate, drinks, gums, and toothpaste. It can also be used for aromatherapy.
- Mint pairs well with these foods: asparagus, beans, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, and yogurt. You can combine mint with these herbs and spices: basil, clove, cumin, dill, ginger, oregano, parsley, and thyme.
Nutrition
- Although mint has some health benefits, it is best to eat it in moderation.
- Mint has small amounts of vitamins A and C, along with the minerals calcium and iron.
- Mint may aid in digestion, but if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it may aggravate symptoms.
Lettuce Joke Around
What did the mint say to the other mint?
We're mint to be together!
That's Berry Funny
What is a mint’s favorite sport?
Bad-mint-on!
