Common Name:	Spearmint
Botanical Name:	Mentha spicata L.
Family:	Lamiaceae (Labiatae).
Synonyms:	Mentha viridis L.; common spearmint; garden spearmint; green mint; lamb mint; pea mint; fish mint.
Origin:	Thought to have originated in Europe. Now cultivated throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Oil is produced mostly in the USA, England, France, Spain, Russia, India, China, and Germany.
Botanical Description:	A hardy branched perennial with bright green, lance shaped, sharply toothed leaves. Underground runners allow the plant to spread rapidly. White flowers cluster in the form of spikes. The plant grows from 25 to 75-cm (10 to 30 in) tall.
Oil Extraction:	Spearmint essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the partially dried, newly flowered tops. The oil is a fluid pale yellow to colorless liquid.
Yield:	0.7%.
Aroma Profile:	The top note is very fresh, sweet, minty, green, and weedy. The middle note is strong, warm, minty-weedy, and sweet. Dry out is warm and minty.
Major Constituents:	Carvone (60%), limonene (20%), dihydrocarvone, β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, myrcene, α-pinene.
Adulterants:	With synthetic carvone.
Regulatory Status:	GRAS 182.20. 172.230.
Aromatherapy:	Spearmint essential oil is cooling, refreshing, and mildtly vitalizing.
Blends well with:	Basil, eucalyptus, jasmine, lavandin, lavender, lime, peppermint, rosemary, and sage.
Safety Data:	Non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing.
Notes:	Spearmint is also available from Hope for Health in tea form.

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