This article was co-authored by Muhammad Khan, MD, MPH. Dr. Muhammad Khan is a Gastroenterologist, with over 10 years of experience. Dr. Khan specializes in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and has a special focus in Therapeutic Endoscopy. He received his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate of Medicine degrees from The University of Utah. Dr. Khan completed his residency training at Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He then completed his fellowship training at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University. He is a Fellow of both the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN).
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Making a mint tea from scratch is simple and easy, and it’s great to have on hand if someone in the family has an upset stomach. It can be as simple as two ingredients—mint and hot water—or as fancy and sophisticated as you like. Mint tea can be served hot for a soothing and warming drink in winter, or chilled for a refreshing and invigorating drink in summer.
- Prep time (Hot): 5 minutes
- Cook time (steeping): 5-10 minutes
- Total time: 10-15 minutes
Ingredients
- 5-10 fresh mint leaves
- 2 cups water (470 ml)
- Sugar or sweetener to taste (optional)
- Lemon (optional)
- 10 sprigs fresh mint
- 8-10 cups water (2-2.5L)
- ½ - 1 cup sugar, to taste (110-225 g)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Cucumber slices (optional)
- 1 tablespoon loose-leaf green tea (15 g)
- 5 cups water (1.2 L)
- 3-4 tablespoons sugar, to taste (40-50 g)
- 5-10 sprigs fresh mint
Steps
Making Hot Mint Tea
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1Boil the water. This can be done in a kettle, over a fire, in a pot on the stove, in the microwave, or any other way you typically boil water. To conserve water, energy, time, and money, only boil as much water as you’re going to use in your tea.
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2Wash and tear the mint leaves. Rinse them to remove any residual dirt, bugs, or soil that may be on the leaves. Then, tear the leaves to help them release their aromas and give your tea a stronger flavor.
- There are a variety of mint leaves you can use, including chocolate mint, spearmint, and peppermint.[1]
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3Prepare the leaves. The mint leaves can go into a tea ball, a teapot designed for loose leaf tea, into a coffee filter, in a French press, or straight into a mug.
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4Pour the boiling water over the leaves. Some teas should be done at different temperatures, so you don’t burn the leaves, but mint is hardy, and you can pour fully boiling water right over the leaves.
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5Steep the tea. Mint tea should steep for five to 10 minutes,[2] but longer is fine if you want a stronger tea. Once your tea reaches the strength you like (either take a taste or go by the smell), remove the leaves. You can also leave the leaves in, and the tea will continue to get stronger. Use a strainer if desired to remove the loose leaves if you didn’t use a tea ball or special pot.
- If you’re using a French press, push the plunger down when the tea has reached the desired strength.
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6Add additional ingredients. Once your tea has steeped, you can add honey or sweetener if you desire, or a splash of lemon before you drink it.
Making Iced Mint Tea
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1Make your mint tea. Using the ratio for a larger batch, make your hot mint tea. Just place the mint leaves in a large heat-safe bowl and pour the boiling water directly over the top. Allow to steep.
- To make a single serving, use the same mint–water ratio and method as you would for a mug of hot mint tea.
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2Stir in sweetener and lemon. Once the tea is ready, squeeze the lemon juice into the tea, making sure you don’t get any seeds in the tea. Add your sweetener of choice, to taste, if you want sweet tea. Stir vigorously to break down the sugar particles.
- Agave nectar also works well as a liquid sweetener and honey substitute.
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3Let the tea cool to room temperature. Once it’s cool, strain the tea into a pitcher and discard the used mint leaves. Refrigerate until it’s cold.[3]
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4Serve over ice with cucumber. When the tea has chilled, and you are ready to serve it, fill your glasses with ice. Thinly slice a cucumber and add a few slices to each glass. Pour the tea and enjoy.
Making Moroccan Mint Tea
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1Rinse the tea leaves. Place the green tea in a teapot and add one cup of boiling water. Swirl the water to rinse the leaves and warm the pot.[4] Pour out the water, leaving the green tea leaves in the teapot.
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2Steep the tea. Add four cups of boiling water to the teapot and steep the tea for two minutes.
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3Add sugar and mint. Steep for an additional four minutes, or to taste, and serve.[5]
- You can take mint or herbal tea if you have an upset stomach. Drink a lot of ginger ale or eat ginger which is like a natural remedy.
- Stay away from acid, like lemonade or soda.
- You can take over-the-counter medicine like Pepto Bismol. It helps to reduce stomach acid.
Preserving Fresh Mint
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1Freeze your mint leaves in an ice cube tray. Leftover mint from the store or garden can be preserved for later use. To freeze your mint, place two washed mint leaves in each basin of an ice cube tray. Fill each with water. Freeze them until you’re ready to use the mint.[6]
- Once the mint cubes have frozen, remove them from the tray and place them in a plastic bag in the freezer. (Now you have your ice cube tray back!)
- When it’s time to use your mint, pull the ice cubes out of the freezer (as many as you need for how much mint you require) and place them in a bowl to thaw. When the ice has thawed, drain the water and pat the mint dry.
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2Dry your mint. Dried mint can be used to make teas, and can even be put into the reusable cups for single-serve coffee machines. Take the fresh sprigs of mint and loosely bundle a couple together with elastic bands. Hang them upside down somewhere warm and dry until the leaves are dry and brittle.
- Mint contains more moisture than some other herbs, which means it can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to dry, depending on the climate. The warmer and dryer the room you use for drying, the less time the process will take.
- When the leaves are dry, place them in a bag or between sheets of wax paper and break them up. Store in a spice jar.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat are the benefits of mint leaves?
Community AnswerThey contain vitamins that are good for you; they also ease stomachaches and nausea, -
QuestionHow long does mint tea stay good after it has been refrigerated with the leaves in it?
Sylv TaylorCommunity AnswerAt least three days in the fridge, and probably a few days longer. Cover the pitcher. -
QuestionIs this good for a minor cold?
Community AnswerYes. Tea is typically good for many common illnesses, including colds.
References
- ↑ https://www.theculinarylife.com/2011/how-to-make-mint-tea/
- ↑ http://gourmandeinthekitchen.com/2010/fresh-mint-tea-recipe/
- ↑ http://www.food.com/recipe/iced-sweet-mint-tea-91292
- ↑ http://www.food.com/recipe/moroccan-mint-tea-55799
- ↑ http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/moroccan-mint-tea-238428
- ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/gardening-101-how-to-preserve-fresh-mint-for-later-220864
About This Article
To make refreshing mint tea, boil about 2 cups (470 mL) of water in a pot or kettle. While you’re doing that, rinse 5-10 fresh mint leaves with cool water. Tear the leaves up to release their natural flavor and aroma. Place the leaves in a tea ball and put them in a teapot, then pour the hot water over them. Let the tea steep for 5 to 10 minutes, then remove the leaves from the pot. Enjoy your mint tea plain or add a splash of lemon, honey, or your choice of sweetener. To learn how to make iced mint tea, scroll down!
