Three kinds of mint, a few warm summer weeks, and something to save for the colder days ahead.
This summer, we’re drying three different kinds of mint from the garden — classic mint, lemon mint, and one with an even stronger, almost extra-minty flavour.
My favourite is probably the lemon mint. It’s fresh and light, with that little hint of citrus that somehow tastes like summer itself. But when winter comes, we’ll most likely mix all three together.
There’s something I love about that thought.
On long winter evenings, when it’s cold and dark outside and the fire is burning, we’ll make tea from something that was growing just a few steps from the house during these warm summer days.
A small reminder of another season.
How We Dry Our Mint
We keep it simple. No dehydrator, no special equipment.
After cutting the mint, we either tie the stems into small bundles and hang them somewhere dry and airy, away from direct sunlight, or spread them loosely in shallow wicker baskets.
The important things are air, shade and a little patience.
Every now and then, we turn the mint in the baskets so that it dries evenly. Once the leaves are completely dry and crisp, we remove them from the stems and store them in glass jars.
And then we start again.
One of the nicest things about mint is how quickly it grows back. A few weeks after cutting it, there is usually enough fresh growth to harvest another batch.
So through summer, the little winter supply slowly gets bigger.
Cut. Dry. Wait. Repeat.
By the time the cold days arrive, hopefully there will be enough jars to take us all the way through winter.
A Few Things We Use
Nothing complicated is needed for drying mint, but a few simple things make it easier:
- Wicker drying baskets
- Natural twine for hanging bundles
- Glass storage jars
- Paper or unbleached paper for lining baskets
(Affiliate links)
And somewhere around January, when summer feels very far away, we’ll probably mix all three kinds together, pour over some hot water and sit by the fire.
A little bit of August, saved in a jar.
–––––––––––––––––––––
See you in the garden.
More from the garden → A Simple Way to Dry Herbs Naturally