Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

White peppermint, also known as white mint, is a variety of peppermint (Mentha × piperita) characterized by light-green stems and foliage. It is a hybrid herb of the mint family, known for its strong, sweetish odor and a warm, pungent taste with a cooling aftertaste. The leaves are used fresh as a culinary herb, and the flowers are dried for flavoring candies, desserts, and beverages. The essential oil, rich in menthol, is widely used in flavoring, perfumery, and traditional medicine for its soothing properties. Peppermint plants spread aggressively via underground stems and have small, typically pinkish-lavender flowers.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.