Wine Mint

Description

Introduce a touch of sophistication to your herb garden with the rich and nuanced character of Wine Mint. Once known botanically as Mentha nepetoides, this name is no longer accepted, and the plant is now correctly classified as Mentha × dumetorum, a naturally occurring hybrid thought to be a cross between Mentha arvensis and Mentha suaveolens.

This variety offers a complex, earthy flavour that has been compared—fittingly—to the subtle depth of a fine red wine. Its dark green, slightly crinkled leaves exude an aromatic richness that works beautifully in both culinary and ornamental settings, adding depth to teas, character to savoury dishes, and visual appeal to borders and containers.

Perhaps most intriguingly, at several plant fairs, I’ve been approached by Greek and Turkish growers and chefs who confidently identified this mint as the variety traditionally used in meatball dishes (keftedes/köfte) from that part of the world. With its earthy undertones and mellow intensity, it’s not hard to see why. I haven’t tried it yet—but I certainly will. And so should you.

Let Wine Mint take pride of place in your collection—not just for its name, but for its depth, versatility, and culinary heritage.