{"product_id":"semences-menthe-verte-ancestrale","title":"Heirloom Spearmint","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMentha spicata.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authentic mint of the cuisines of the world, and probably the most universally appreciated aromatic herb — from a Cuban mojito to Maghrebi mint tea, from Lebanese tabbouleh to the mint sauce that accompanies English roast leg of lamb, by way of Vietnamese \u003cem\u003ebánh mì\u003c\/em\u003e and the fresh leaves rolled into \u003cem\u003egỏi cuốn\u003c\/em\u003e (spring rolls). It is this species, \u003cem\u003eMentha spicata\u003c\/em\u003e, that constitutes mint par excellence — its species name comes from the Latin \u003cem\u003espicatum\u003c\/em\u003e (\"in a spike\"), in reference to the long pointed shape of its flower spikes. Not to be confused with peppermint (\u003cem\u003eMentha × piperita\u003c\/em\u003e), which is actually a hybrid between spearmint and water mint and which contains much more menthol; spearmint is dominated by \u003cem\u003ecarvone\u003c\/em\u003e, a softer, more fragrant and less \"cooling\" molecule in the mouth than the bracing menthol of its peppermint cousin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMint has a rich Greek mythology: the nymph Minthe, beloved of the god Hades, was transformed into a fragrant plant by Persephone, the jealous wife of the lord of the Underworld, who trampled her until she disappeared; Hades, unable to bring her back to life, gave her in consolation an eternal perfume that would infuse anyone who brushed against her.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA robust perennial plant 30-90 cm, with square stems (characteristic of the Lamiaceae family, like lemon balm, rosemary, sage and Greek oregano) and oval-lanceolate leaves in a bright, slightly matte green, finely toothed at the edges. In summer, elongated spikes of small pink-white flowers appear at the tips of the stems and attract considerable numbers of bees, bumblebees and all kinds of pollinators. Fresh, mild, herbaceous, classic flavour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA thousand culinary uses: fresh leaves chopped into Lebanese tabbouleh (where it plays an equal role with parsley), crushed leaves in a mojito or a mint julep, steeped hot with gunpowder green tea and sugar for Moroccan mint tea (\u003cem\u003eatay\u003c\/em\u003e), stirred raw with Greek yogurt, garlic and cucumber for \u003cem\u003etzatziki\u003c\/em\u003e, chopped with fresh peas over lamb, or simply a few fresh leaves in a pitcher of lemon water to refresh summer. Also recognized for its digestive properties — Dioscorides recommended it as early as the 1st century for stomach troubles, and it's this same property that justifies the custom of mint tea at the end of a meal in Maghrebi cuisine today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrower's tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mint is a particularly vigorous perennial, hardy in Québec to zone 3, thriving for decades once established. Beware, however, of its underground rhizomes — it propagates at high speed and quickly invades all available space; it can literally colonize an entire vegetable garden in 2-3 years if given free rein. The golden rule is to isolate it: grow it in a large pot buried in the ground (leave the rim sticking out 5 cm), in a sealed container, or in a garden corner enclosed by a physical barrier. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sow in late May. The seeds are fine and slow to germinate (10-14 days). Once well established, mint is mostly multiplied by clump division or by stem cuttings in a glass of water (roots appear within days).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen-pollinated. Hardy perennial, zone 3. Insect-pollinated; readily crosses with other nearby mints (\u003cem\u003eMentha\u003c\/em\u003e spp.), producing more or less fragrant hybrids.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 30-90 cm depending on conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlowering: July to August (leaves are best before flowering).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExposure: full sun to part shade. Tolerates light part shade well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCool, moist soil rich in organic matter. Prefers slightly damp soils to dry ones.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStart indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sow in late May. Cultivate imperatively in an isolated container or an enclosed space to prevent rhizome spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Joual Vert","offers":[{"title":"400","offer_id":41388737822892,"sku":"GC-H-SPEARM-400","price":0.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2000","offer_id":41717284438188,"sku":"GC-H-SPEARM-2K","price":3.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10000","offer_id":41717284470956,"sku":"GC-H-SPEARM-10K","price":12.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50000","offer_id":44300227149996,"sku":"GC-H-SPEARM-50K","price":48.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0532\/1388\/8684\/products\/spearminth.jpg?v=1664221320","url":"https:\/\/joualvert.ca\/en\/products\/heirloom-spearmint-seeds","provider":"Joual Vert","version":"1.0","type":"link"}