Mint Preparation For Consumption?

I think the best way to dry any herb, is to tie them in bundles and hang them upside down...If you remember in some movies that are historical in nature you always see herbs being dried this way....did you by any chance see The Mists Of Avalon? Viviane the Lady of Avalon is going through a long isle with herbs hanging upside down and she picks one. Here's a website that also tells you http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070909172514AAQrFx3 Here's another great site http://www.wikihow.com/Preserve-Herbs

If i had some mint; I'd make a mint julep. They are hsitorically popular int eh south but I've never had one. I think it is good in tea also. I've seen lots of herbs hanging upside down to dry. I think you could do that. Maybe you will get the anwere from somebody else who actually works with herbs.

I have not done this, so this is my opinion. First off, is your stove gas, or electric? If gas, the pilot light should do the trick. If electric, keep it down around 150. Also, you can lay it on cookie sheets, and cover it with cheese cloth and put it outside in the sun. I would also freeze some, in ice cube trays, with a little water. Those would be best for your smoothies, I think, and for tea. I have hung them upside down in bunches, usual recommendation is to put them in a brown paper bag, to keep dust and flies, etc. off. I think I need to go harvest some mint, lemon balm, and possibly basil and lavender. Thanks for the reminder.

I have dried herbs before but not mint. The method I followed said: turn the oven on 200 degrees for twenty minutes. Wash the herbs with water dry the herbs with a paper towel Place [aper towels on a cookie sheet Place the herbs on the paper towels Turn it off the oven Place the cookie sheet in the oven Leave undisturbed over night. Place in jars or zip lock bags and label and date them This worked really well for basil, oregano and thyme so I would think it would work for mint.

Hi Grandpa B, h[i]mm..maybe hanging them is good! My husband was very excited yesterday getting free mint from his office mate! LOL! We had a very limited space for the garden and we never had that, lesson next year for us to widen it![/i]

I have never had a fruit smoothie made with fresh mint. But I have to say that it sounds like it would be Very Good for me, and taste very good too. How big is your garden? You seem to be growing a little of everything this year! I am sorry that I have no ideas on how to dry the mint out. I hope that some of the others here will be able to give you some great advice!

I love to use my mint fresh, I find it so lovely. I boil peas and potatoes with it, it's so summery. I cut them off at the bottom, and hang them upside down in the shed. It turns out very well for the winter months. As I said, I much prefer it fresh.

I *flash* freeze basil. I wonder if you can do the same with mint? I put in a single layer, not touching on a cookie sheet and put it in the freezer for about an hour. I then put it in baggies and use what I need. I am thinking about growing mint next year. This sounds awesome. (((hugs)))

Ok...I'm going to ask a question first...you'd think I'd know this since I grew up in the country but I'm not exactly Girl Scout material...where can I find mint growing and what does it look like? It seems like all my old friends had mint growing wild around their properties and I am very much missing mint tea but have lost contact with all of them since moving. We have 6 acres, some clear, some wooded, and a small stream so I'm thinking there's got to be some mint around here somewhere! As for you questions....my friends just hung it to dry or used it fresh. The one would pick them, wash them and drop them into the hot tea water when she made iced tea. It was so refreshing.

Hi Bob i think drying in Sun is best option

When I dry mint I normally take the leaves and pop them in an old cardboard cereal box which I put somewhere warmish. They dry very quickly and it saves them constantly blowing away. I've tried drying them in bunches suspended from the roof but I find it is easier to seperate the leaves from the stem whilst the plant is fresh.