How to Make Spearmint Tea: The Method, the Cool Mint Flavor, and How to Serve It
By Suhail Rivera, JD, founder of Alkaline Herb Shop
To make spearmint tea, add 1 teaspoon of dried spearmint leaf to 8 ounces of boiling water, cover, and steep for 5 to 10 minutes, then strain. Covering keeps the bright, cooling mint oils in the cup instead of in the steam. That is the whole method. The rest of this guide covers the flavour, how to serve it hot or iced, and what pairs well with it.
How to make spearmint tea, step by step
- Add 1 teaspoon of cut and sifted spearmint leaf to an 8 ounce cup.
- Pour boiling water over it.
- Cover and steep 5 to 10 minutes.
- Strain and drink, hot or iced.
What does spearmint tea taste like?
Cool, fresh and lightly sweet, softer and rounder than peppermint. Spearmint is the gentler mint, minty without the sharp menthol bite, which makes it easy to drink on its own and pleasant iced.
Does spearmint tea have caffeine?
No. Spearmint is naturally caffeine free, so it works any time of day.
Iced spearmint tea, and what to pair it with
Spearmint is excellent iced: brew it a little stronger, strain, cool it and pour over ice with a slice of lemon or lime. Hot or cold, it pairs well with a little ginger, with hibiscus for colour and tartness, or with other green herbs. A sprig of it also lifts a pitcher of plain water.
What is spearmint, or hierbabuena?
Spearmint is the leaf of Mentha spicata, known in Spanish as hierbabuena. Ours is organic or wildcrafted cut and sifted leaf from Egypt, just the leaf with nothing added. We make no health claims for it. Drink it because it is a bright, cooling, caffeine free cup.
Who should not drink spearmint tea
- Do not use it during pregnancy or while nursing.
- It is not recommended for anyone under 18.
- If you have a medical condition or take prescription medicine, speak to your doctor first.
How to store dried spearmint
Keep it tightly closed in a dry place at room temperature, 59 to 86°F. Kept dry and sealed, cut spearmint stays good for a couple of years.
Where to get it
Our cut and sifted spearmint leaf is organic or wildcrafted from Egypt, just the leaf with nothing added, ready to steep hot or iced.
Suhail Rivera is the founder of Alkaline Herb Shop, which sources and sells the spearmint leaf described in this article.
Suhail Rivera is not a medical professional. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any herb, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.
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