Ancient Recipes · August 2, 2026
Simple Fresh Mint Tea
A clean infusion that can be served hot, cooled over ice or combined with green tea.
Mint tea asks for almost nothing, which is why every choice becomes visible. Use correctly identified culinary mint, clean water and a covered pot so the aroma stays in the cup rather than decorating the ceiling.
Spearmint gives a soft green cup. Peppermint gives a stronger cooling one. Fresh leaves taste rounder; dried leaves are more concentrated and useful when the garden is resting.
Do not boil the leaves hard. Pour just-boiled water over them, cover and steep. Five minutes gives a light cup; a few more minutes gives a fuller one. Taste before adding honey or sugar.
This is a culinary infusion, not a treatment or medical recommendation. This recipe has not been represented as personally prepared by the fictional character Grandma Grace.
From the kitchen
Simple Fresh Mint Tea
A fragrant mint infusion for two, served plain or lightly sweetened.
- Prep
- 3 min
- Cook
- 7 min
- Total
- 10 min
- Makes
- 2 cups
Ingredients
- 2 loosely packed cups fresh culinary mint sprigs, rinsed
- 2 1/2 cups just-boiled water
- Honey or sugar, optional
- A thin strip of lemon peel, optional
Method
- 1Gently bruise the mint sprigs and place them in a heatproof pot.
- 2Pour over the just-boiled water, cover and steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
- 3Strain into cups and taste before adding any sweetener or lemon peel.
For dried peppermint leaf, use 2 to 3 teaspoons in place of the fresh sprigs and steep for 5 minutes before tasting.
Old wisdom. Gentle healing. A life well lived.
