Mint for Eternal Refreshment
Mint, Mentha
Mint’s message is eternal refreshment. Maybe we need to refresh our memories, refresh our enthusiasm for writing, or refresh our sense of purpose in this memoir undertaking. Whenever we need refreshment, there is a mint to please.
Mint is native to the Middle East and has a long history of use. According to the oldest medical text, the Ebers Papyrus that dates from about 1550 B.C.E., mint tea was used to treat indigestion. In Luke 11:42, we read that the Pharisees used mint to pay their tithes to the Pharoahs. Clearly, this herb has long been a valued resource.
Current research validates the ancient prescription, showing that mint tea helps to soothe the stomach lining. The volatile oil menthol, a component of the herb, is also responsible for clearing congestion in the head.
In our Memoir Garden, there is room for all our favorite mint varieties – Apple, Bergamot, Pineapple, Corsican, and any of the more than 60 types of mint that we want to include. My favorite is Chocolate Mint with its small, dark green leaves that have a rich, chocolaty taste. I pick tender leaves from the tops of stems, sometimes using them on platters of fresh fruit and sometimes just popping them in my mouth. The flavor never fails to remind me of the special treat of a York Peppermint Pattie, savored in a movie theater when I was young.
We’ve planted the mint in full sun where we’ll need to water it frequently but it will have a stronger flavor. We might think of this as a metaphor for work on our memoirs. The more light or visibility that we give to our work, the more effort will need to be given to it. However, memoirs benefit from the extra time, thought, and editing.
Visit our Writer’s Store with its products for encouragement and sharing that feature many of the herbs from our Memoir Garden.
Do you like to sip on tea while you work on your memoir? I do. That’s why we developed a special tea that is refreshing, yet that evokes memories. Our tasting panel chose the addition of organic mint and organic rosemary to our Unfolding Tea. The mint and green tea quickly reach your taste buds, followed by a light taste of rosemary.
Tea of Refreshing Memories: Try this piquant blend, especially if you’ve never tasted rosemary tea before: click here.
