Swiss Ricola Mint

Description

Elevate your herb garden with the distinctive charm of Swiss Ricola Mint, a variety celebrated for its sweet, rounded flavour and gentle menthol notes. Said to originate in the Swiss Alps and named after the famed Swiss herbal confectionery brand Ricola, this mint is often cited as one of the key ingredients in their traditional alpine blends.

Botanically listed as Mentha × piperita f. citrata, this mint belongs to the elusive and often-confused citrata group—cousins of orange, grapefruit, and lavender mints—though it leans closer in character to a mild peppermint with complex, floral undertones. The foliage is mid-green with a hint of gloss, sometimes showing purple tinges in the stems or during cooler weather. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and forms neat mounds rather than sending runners far and wide, making it slightly better behaved than other mints.

Swiss Ricola Mint is superb for herbal teas, syrups, and desserts where a subtle and elegant mint presence is desired. Its aroma is deeply comforting, evoking the crisp clarity of alpine air and the warming familiarity of traditional herbal remedies. This variety is also prized in gardens for its strong scent, compact habit, and soothing visual appeal.

Though occasionally confused with Mentha × piperita ‘Swiss’, or even the now rarely seen ‘Thüringer’ mint, Swiss Ricola stands apart with its unique combination of flavour, heritage, and botanical tidiness.