2-11 Mint

Description

Mentha spicata ‘2-11’ is a select spearmint cultivar, thought to have emerged from agronomic trials in Northern India, where research institutions have long experimented with varietals for both essential oil yield and culinary potential. The name ‘2-11’ likely refers to a specific selection within these trials—suggesting a controlled hybrid chosen for desirable characteristics such as vigour, resistance to disease, or high carvone content.

This variety displays bright green, lanceolate leaves, with the familiar sweet, clean aroma of spearmint, but with a slightly more refined intensity—making it an excellent candidate for teas, fresh garnishes, or distillation. It grows with a compact, upright habit and shows good adaptability to a range of climates.

Whether or not its origins can be definitively traced to the mint-breeding programmes of the Indian subcontinent, ‘2-11’ offers a glimpse into the intersection of scientific breeding and culinary tradition—a mint suited for the present but rooted in global heritage. Especially since, I recieved it from a fellow breeder and all round great fella in Scotland.