Pennyroyal

Polejmynta

Plant Description

Aromatic Herb: Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), family Lamiaceae, is a member of the mint genus.

Season:
It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen from September to October.

Uses in Cooking:

Leaves - raw or cooked. Used as a flavoring in salads or cooked foods. A spearmint-like flavor, though rather coarser, it is not used very often. A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves. For drying, it should be harvested as the plant comes into flower.

It is used in Asian cooking for its mint flavor.

Possible Substitutes:

Spearmint

How it comes:

Spice Mixes

Fresh leaves from your garden before the plant flowers in August.

Other Uses:

Crushed Pennyroyal leaves and foliage exhibit a very strong spearmint fragrance. Pennyroyal has been used for centuries in herbal medicine. Its main value is as a digestive tonic where it increases the secretion of digestive juices and relieves flatulence and colic. An essential oil is obtained from the whole plant, used in soap making and as a cleanser for fabrics. Pregnant women should avoid using Pennyroyal all together. It creeps along close to the ground and has been used as a powerful moth and insect repellent.