Dry, freeze and store peppermint

Peppermint is easy to preserve, so its aromatic and refreshing taste can be enjoyed even in winter. Here we will show you what to pay attention to when preserving peppermint.

In summer, soft drinks are often spiced up with fresh peppermint leaves. In winter, however, peppermint tea is enjoyed from dried leaves from your own garden. We explain what to look for when preserving peppermint (Mentha x piperita) must pay attention.

Dry peppermint

The best way to preserve peppermint is to dry it. Like her Harvest peppermint correctly, find out here. The herbs are then gently dried. To do this, you can tie the peppermint stalks together into bouquets and hang them overhead in an airy, warm, dark place. About the individual taste nuances of the different, sometimes very fruity Types and varieties of mint To be able to differentiate later, the bouquets should be hung up or labeled according to variety. You should definitely avoid direct sunlight, otherwise a large part of the aromas and essential oils will be lost.

Another option is to preserve the peppermint in drying nets in an airy manner. Alternatively, the peppermint stems can be dried in the oven at a maximum of 40 °C. When doing this, leave the oven door open slightly so that the moisture can escape. The dry leaves are stripped from the stem and stored in dark, airtight jars. Properly dried peppermint leaves still have a greenish color and they rustle and crumble between your fingers. Once dried, the peppermint leaves can be kept for a few months, but over time they lose their aroma and ingredients.

Tip: Dried peppermint is not only ideal for tea, but also as a spice for fresh dishes.

Freeze peppermint

A good alternative to drying is freezing peppermint leaves. To prepare, carefully wash the peppermint stems and pat them dry with a cloth. Now there are 2 options:

1. Freeze peppermint whole: Place the stems next to each other on a tray and pre-freeze for 1 to 2 hours so that the leaves do not stick together. They should then be packed airtight in bags or cans and labeled. The frozen leaves are easily separated from the stem and can be used either frozen or thawed.
2. Cut peppermint into small pieces and freeze: To do this, cut the individual mint leaves into small pieces and fill them into ice cube trays so that you have portioned the herbs correctly. Once the peppermint cubes are frozen, they can be transferred to bags or cans.

More tips for preserving and storing

Ice cubes with whole peppermint leaves are a special eye-catcher for soft drinks and cocktails. To do this, fill an ice cube mold with water as usual, put a mint leaf or a shoot tip into each mold and then freeze it. If you want to use the peppermint fresh, we recommend using a plastic container with wet kitchen paper Lay it out, spread the peppermint on it, cover it with another wet kitchen towel and seal it airtight close. This will keep your peppermint fresh in the fridge for a few weeks. Another alternative is to keep the peppermint stems fresh in a glass of water for a few days.

Peppermint is very easy to care for and easy to grow. To ensure a bountiful harvest, read our special article Growing and caring for peppermint.