Description:
Mentha piperita is a native of Europe, Canada, the US, and Asia. It is also named Peppermint. It is cultivated in India, China, Europe, Australia, America, South Africa, and some other countries of the world. It is a hybrid mint, a cross between water mint and spearmint. These are the most important commercial herbs cultivated for essential oil production in India Germany, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Egypt, Morocco, Greece, Israel, United Kingdom, Turkey, Nigeria, and China.

The Peppermint has more than 100 local names in different countries. Some of the names are as under:

The essential oil can be extracted by the classical procedure like steam distillation from the shoot, mainly from the plant leaves, harvested between 97 and 100 days after planting. The fresh herb contains essential oils ranging from 0.4 to 0.8%.

The peppermint flavor is primarily based on menthol, menthone, and their isomers, menthyl esters, and piperitone.

Menthol not only provides the classic minty note but also activates the cold-sensitive receptors in the oral cavity to produce a cooling effect.

Cultivation and Harvesting:
The crop is cultivated by Rhizomes. It can also be propagated vegetative means by runners. Mentha piperita generally grows best in moist and shaded soil. Rhizomes are cut into pieces of 4 to 5 cm length and are planted in 5 to 6 cm deep and are covered with soil.

The ideal season for planting is in the month of January and two harvests are obtained in the month of April -May, and June-July. The crops grow well in the region where rainfall (50 to 100 cm). The field should have well-drained soil, medium to fertile deep soil, rich in humus is ideal for the cultivation of Peppermint. The soil should have a good water holding capacity but waterlogging should be avoided.

The pH ranges from 6 to 7.5 and the temperature (30 to 38°C) is the best. The better yield is obtained only in humid and temperate conditions like in Kashmir and the hills of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

Odor profile:
Powerful with a mentholated aroma

Major Constituents:
Menthol, Menthone, 1,8-Cineole, Menthyl Acetate, Limonene, Mentha Furan, Iso-Menthone, Iso-Pulegole, Carvone, Pulegone.

Application:
~ Pulegone and Menthone present in the Mentha piperita oil act as insects especially mosquito repellants.
~ The oil is also widely used to repel rodents.
~ The oil is widely used for the flavoring of dental preparations, mouthwashes, pharmaceuticals, cough drops, alcoholic liqueurs chewing gums, candies, chewing gum, confectionery, soaps, toothpaste, detergents, mouthwash, and toiletries.
~ The oil shows some properties like Anti-inflammatory, Antiallergic, antioxidant, Antitumor, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Antiemetic, antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, and Spasmolytic.
~ it is also used in treating gastrointestinal disorders.