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Moroccan Mint ( Mentha spicata var. crispa ) is a pretty, compact variety of mint that looks good in your garden and can be used to flavour food, make tea or simply scent your patio! Moroccan mint tea is extremely popular in the Arab nations, where the drink often has a ceremonial purpose, especially when made for guests by the man of the house. As it combines imported ingredients (tea from China and imported sugar) with a local ingredient (fresh mint), Moroccan mint tea is an early example of globalization in cuisine. The tea, which is also known as Tuareg tea, is the subject of this apt proverb: ‘The first glass is as bitter as life, the second is as strong as love, the third is as soothing as death’.
LATIN NAME
Mentha spicata
NAME
Spearmint
VARIETY
Moroccan
QUANTITY
50 seeds
PLANT SIZE
Height50 cm
Width20 cm
CONTAINER SIZE
Height30 cm
Width30 cm
COMPANION PLANT
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, alpine strawberries.
SOWING
IndoorNot required
OutdoorFeb-Mar
TIMING
Germination7-15 days
Harvesting40-60 days
SPACING
When sowing1-3 cm; Depth 0,2 cm
When thinning3-5 cm
GROWING
SunligthPartial shade.
SoilWell-drained, light and poor soil.
WateringRegular watering, not overdone
FeedingAddition of fertilizer is not necessary.
CARING
Expert tipMint can be grown easily from seed, but do not cover the seeds after sowing as they need light to germinate. Many gardeners deliberately plant it in less-than-favourable conditions to slow down its spread.
SUPPORTING
Pollinators
An excellent attractant and nectar source for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
Pests
Repels ants and aphids.
HARVESTING
Moroccan mint can be picked at any time, but some of the flavour is lost after flowering. Try to pick mint in the morning, when its heady oils are at their strongest.
EATING
Medicinal propertiesCrush a few leaves and massage them into your temples to ease a headache. The leaves also have a soothing effect when placed directly on to insect stings.
How to eatTraditional Moroccan tea involves Chinese Gunpowder green tea, sugar cones, boiling water, mint and, of course, a lot of love. If you have more Western tastes, you could use the mint generously in classic mint-laced cocktails like the Mojito and the Mint Julep. It also makes a fantastic garnish for the elegant, old-fashioned Grasshopper cocktail.
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Type: Garden