Peppermint tea is a popular herbal tea made from the fresh mint leaves of the mint plant, known as Mentha piperita.
People prefer peppermint over regular tea because of its refreshing flavor and lack of caffeine. Nor does it require milk, making it popular for anyone allergic to dairy/lactose.
This blog will tell you everything you need to know about peppermint tea. We will cover the following:
- What peppermint tea tastes like
- The health benefits of peppermint tea
- The five ways to make peppermint tea
What does peppermint tea taste like?
When you drink a proper cup of peppermint tea, you will taste or feel:
- A strong, minty taste that awakens your senses.
- A crisp, cooling effect that comes from the menthol in peppermint.
- A lack of bitterness, making it a refreshing drink.
- A fresh and clean feeling in your mouth.
What are the health benefits of peppermint tea?
People add peppermint tea to their daily diet not only for its taste but potential health benefits.
Some common health benefits:
- Relieving digestive issues and other common ailments like a sore throat.
- The menthol is an anxiety and stress reliever and helps with treating headaches, migraines and IBS
- Peppermint's antibacterial properties can prevent bad breath, while its antiviral properties boost the immune system.
Five ways to make peppermint tea
There's more than one way to make a refreshing, hot peppermint tea. Let's explore five methods.
Making peppermint tea from a tea bag
- Choose a high-quality peppermint tea. Sip Our Mantra Mint Tea Vanilla Peppermint Tea
- Choose sustainable tea bags. At Magic Hour, we offer NON-GMO Organic Corn Silk Tea bags
- You will need 250ml of water per tea bag. Heat the water before it hits boiling point (approximately 200°F/93°C. You can use a specialized teapot like the Magic Hour teapot for precise temperature controls.
- Place the tea bag in your cup and gently pour the hot water.
- Wait up to seven minutes for the teabag to steep. The longer it steeps, the stronger the flavor. However, letting it steep for too long can turn the taste bitter.
- Take the tea bag out and take slow and steady sips.
For extra sweetness, add honey or your preferred sweetener.
Making peppermint tea from a tea strainer
In this method, you will need one tablespoon of dried peppermint leaves per cup. Put the leaves in a tea in a mesh strainer.
Heat the water to 200°F/93°C and pour it over the leaves in the strainer, filling the cup. Let it steep for up to seven minutes.
After steeping, remove the tea strainer from the cup, pressing lightly to extract maximum flavor from the leaves.
This method produces a pure and refreshing cup of peppermint tea. To maximize the taste of peppermint:
- Use fresh peppermint leaves.
- Add extra mint
- Cover the cup while steeping to trap the steam and essential oils.
Making fresh peppermint tea
Another way to make peppermint tea is by using an infuser mug. The steps are as follows:
- Take a tablespoon of fresh leaves. Look for vibrant, green leaves without any brown spots or signs of wilting, as these will give you the freshest flavor.
- Gently rinse the tea leaves under cold water to remove any dirt or potential pesticides.
- Pat the leaves dry.
- Take a handful of the fresh mint leaves and lightly crush them in your hands to release the essential oils that enhance the flavor.
- Place the crushed leaves into the infuser part of your mug and add water just below the boiling point. Ensure the water covers the leaves completely for proper infusion.
- Let it steep for up to seven minutes.
- Lastly, remove the infuser from the mug before drinking.
Making iced peppermint tea
Feeling hot? Peppermint tea tastes just as good cold!
For iced tea, you usually need a stronger brew because the ice cubes will dilute the flavor, so use about one tablespoon of fresh peppermint leaves or one teaspoon of dried leaves for every eight ounces of water.
Boil the water, and while it's heating, rinse your fresh peppermint leaves under cold water if you’re using them, then pat them dry.
Once your water reaches just before boiling point, place the peppermint leaves in your tea strainer or infuser.
Pour the hot water over the leaves and let them steep for up to seven minutes. For stronger iced tea, let the leaves steep for 10 minutes.
After steeping, remove the leaves by lifting out the infuser or straining the tea. Allow the tea to cool for a few minutes.
(To speed up this process, pour the tea into a pitcher and then place the pitcher in the refrigerator to cool more quickly).
Once the tea is at room temperature, pour the cooled peppermint tea over the ice cubes, leaving some room if you plan to add any additional flavorings like fresh limes or sugar.
Optionally, garnish with sprigs of mint or a slice of lemon.
Making fruit-infused peppermint tea
Fruit-infused peppermint tea can enhance peppermint's natural, refreshing qualities with sweet and tangy fruit flavors.
Start by choosing fruits that pair well with the minty flavor of peppermint.
Citrus fruits like lemon, lime, and orange offer a refreshing tang that balances the coolness of the mint.
Alternatively, berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries provide a sweet contrast to the peppermint’s sharpness.
For a more exotic twist, consider adding slices of mango or pineapple.
When selecting herbs, lemon balm and spearmint are excellent because they enhance the tea’s minty profile without overpowering it.
Once you've chosen your fruits, follow the usual process.
- Rinse the leaves under cold water.
- Crush the leaves to release their essential oils.
(This only applies to fresh peppermint tea. If you’re using dried peppermint, you can skip this step.)
- Add your preferred fusion to near-boiled water. If you are infusing the tea with citrus fruits like lemon or orange, you can also add a few slices or peels of the fruit to the water as it heats to begin releasing their oils and enhancing the water with a fruity essence.
- Place the crushed peppermint leaves in a tea infuser or strainer. Pour the hot water over the leaves and add your selected fruits and herbs. Allow the mixture to steep for around seven minutes.
- Remove the infuser once the tea has steeped, or strain the leaves and fruits out of the liquid.
- Pour the infused tea into cups and (optionally) sweeten them. You can serve the tea hot or iced.
- Garnish with fresh mint leaves or a slice of fruit for an extra touch of flavor.
How will you brew?
Exploring different techniques, ingredients and varieties of mint to find your perfect cup of fruit-infused peppermint tea can be fun and enjoyable.
Don't hesitate to experiment with various fruits, herbs, and steeping times to discover the flavors that you love the most.
Using tools like the Magic Hour teapots, which are designed for precise brewing, can improve your tea-making experience by allowing you to control the temperature and steeping time accurately.
The right brew is a personal choice that balances flavor, aroma, and the soothing qualities of the tea to suit your taste. And if you need help finding a brew that hits the spot, consider taking the Magic Hour tea quiz!
