Peppermint tea

  Today's taste test "tea" is peppermint.  This herbal infusion  was gifted to me by my brother, David, and sourced from Mecca Coffee Company, of Tulsa Oklahoma. 

Peppermint is used as a flavoring in breath mints, candies and other foods. Additionally, many people consume peppermint as a refreshing, caffeine-free tea. Peppermint leaves contain several essential oils including menthol, menthone and limonene. Menthol gives peppermint its cooling properties and recognizably minty scent.

While research on peppermint tea is limited, several studies outline the benefits of peppermint oil and peppermint extracts.  Peppermint may help improve digestion, freshen your breath and improve concentration.  Additionally, this mint has antibacterial properties and may improve allergy symptoms, headaches and clogged airways.  

Peppermint tea, made from fresh mint leaves and green tea, is popular in the Greater Maghreb region (the northwest African countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania). It has since spread throughout North Africa, parts of the Sahel, France and the Arab world. It is most closely associated with Morocco and in Spanish is known simply as "Moorish tea".  A similar drink is prepared in Spain but is typically served chilled as iced tea in the summer, instead of hot year-round.

I made 4 cups using the Assam tea press and the boiling setting on the smart kettle.  I did a 4 minute brew time.  Due to the lesser density of the leaves compared to black tea I only used 7 grams vs. the 10 grams of tea I normally use to make a pot of tea.

It smells mildly of mint while brewing 

1st sip with sugar:  Taste strongly of mint, much like peppermint gum.

1st full mouthful with sugar.  Strong mint flavor, bracing, slightly astringent.  Nice aftertaste.  Has a slightly slick mouthfeel.

1st sip, without sugar:  Mint taste is reduced compared to with sugar.

1st full mouthful, without sugar:  Bracing, and more astringent than without sugar.  Not bitter and has a nice aftertaste. 

Iced with sugar:  Nice flavor, more minty than the hot versions.  I actually like this quite a lot.

Iced without sugar: Still has a nice minty flavor but there is a slightly bitter taste to it that hasn't been present in the other versions.  I think I prefer it with sugar if iced.

Would I drink this if offered by a friend?   Sure.  It's a nice enough beverage.  Depending on weather I might ask for it iced instead of hot.

Will I drink this tea again?  Yes, it's my go to beverage for when I don't want a caffeine containing tea but want something warm to drink.

Would I buy this tea?  Yes.

Did Explorer the Cat go nuts over this tea?  Yes, she sniffed at the tea and had to be removed from the computer desk several times.

Final verdict:  Nice change up from normal black tea, nice for when I'm awake too early in the morning and don't want to drink tea with caffeine because I may try to get back to sleep.  8 of 10, will drink again.

Explorer the Cat sniffing the Peppermint tea.