How to Make Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is an herbal tea that is brewed from the leaves of the peppermint plant. The plant was cultivated in the 1700s as a hybrid between water mint and spearmint. It can easily be grown in most home gardens or purchased fresh at your local grocery store. 

Peppermint’s cooling taste comes from its high menthol content, making it a favorite flavor for toothpaste, mouthwash, candy canes, and mints, among other things.

Peppermint oil is one of the most used essential oils in herbal medicines, and the leaves make a delicious, fragrant tea.

Potential Health Benefits

Peppermint tea has an antispasmodic effect and is often used to calm stomach cramps. In addition to its soothing effect on the digestive system, peppermint is also used to boost the immune system, relieve headaches, soothe sore throat and nasal congestion, and help with seasonal allergies.

Peppermint tea is also full of antioxidants and has zero caffeine. As an added bonus, it helps to freshen your breath.

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Adverse Side Effects

Peppermint tea has very few side effects. Rarely, it can cause an allergic reaction, so proceed with caution if you are prone to food allergies and have not used peppermint before.

Peppermint tea can also sometimes cause heartburn in people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or are otherwise prone to heartburn.

How to Make Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is a quick and easy recipe that can be made from fresh mint leaves, dried peppermint, or peppermint tea bags. The dried leaves can be stored in an airtight container away from heat and sunlight. For more information on how to store dried tea, read this post: What is the Best Way to Store Loose Tea?

What could be more pleasing than harvesting your own peppermint leaves from your garden to make a refreshing cup of tea?

Peppermint Tea Recipe

1 handful of fresh peppermint leaves, 2 tsp of dried peppermint leaves, or 1 peppermint tea bag.

2 cups of hot water

Sweetener (optional)

Wash your fresh peppermint leaves, especially if you just harvested them from your garden.

Crush the fresh peppermint leaves to release the natural oils that give peppermint its flavor. 

Crush the leaves with your hands, the back of a spoon, or a mortar and pestle. 

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and then remove from the heat. Place your crushed leaves, dried leaves, or tea bag in a warmed teapot or tea infuser. 

Pour the hot water over the leaves and let steep for 5 – 8 minutes. The steeping time will vary depending on how strong you want the peppermint flavor. 

Pour the tea into a warm cup and add a sweetener of your choice. 

Iced Peppermint Tea

2 handfuls of fresh peppermint, 4 teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves, or 3 peppermint tea bags

4 cups of hot water 

fresh lime or lemon slices

sweetener (optional)

Wash fresh leaves. Crush the leaves with your hands, a spoon, or a mortar and pestle to release the natural flavors.

Bring the water to a boil and then remove it from the heat. Allow the water to cool slightly.

Add the fresh peppermint leaves, dried peppermint, or tea bags to the pot. Let the tea steep for 5-8 minutes, depending on how flavourful you want your tea.

Strain the tea into a glass jar or jug using a tea strainer or cheesecloth. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator.

To serve, add some ice cubes to a tall glass. Pour in the cold peppermint tea. Add a liquid sweetener such as honey or simple syrup ( see note) and a slice of lemon, if desired, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. You can also garnish the iced tea with a mint sprig.

Note: If you prefer to use a solid sweetener such as white or brown sugar, add it to the tea before cooling. Sugar doesn’t dissolve well in cold liquids.

Delicious Add Ons

Iced Tea: Iced peppermint tea is delicious with fresh fruit. Just add a cup of your choice to the cooled tea before refrigerating.

Ginger: Grated ginger also adds a nice flavor. Add the grated ginger to the hot water for about 5 minutes before adding the mint leaves to allow the ginger to steep. Continue steeping for a further 5 – 8 minutes after adding the leaves.

Lavender: A small pinch of lavender added to your tea along with the peppermint leaves will increase the calming effect and enhance the taste, but it’s not for everyone, and a little lavender goes a long way.

Black Tea: To give green or black tea an extra flavor, you can also add fresh peppermint leaves.

Christmas: This recipe makes a great Christmas tea. A candy cane or cinnamon stick added to a cup or glass of fresh peppermint tea would be a nice festive garnish for the Christmas season.

Peppermint tea goes great with these chocolate fudge brownies. Who doesn’t love the flavors of chocolate and mint together?