spearmint

Aromatic herb (Mentha spicata) of the mint family, the common garden mint widely used for culinary purposes. It has lax, tapering spikes of reddish lilac flowers similar to peppermint flowers and sharply serrated leaves that are used fresh or dried to flavour many foods. The aroma and taste of spearmint are similar to those of peppermint but not as strong. Native to Europe and Asia, spearmint has been naturalized in North America.

Find more information on spearmint. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on spearmint.