Mint leaves are popular and easy to grow at home. They have a pleasant, refreshing taste and many health benefits. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. You can eat them raw or use them in a variety of recipes. They can be used for tea, in cooking, or to help with digestion and other ailments. You can also smoke them to relax the nerves and relieve tension and stress. Mint leaves are a natural stimulant and have many uses. They are a good alternative to tobacco and can even be useful in helping you quit smoking.
You can dry mint leaves by hanging them upside down in a cool place or spreading them out on a screen and leaving them in a warm place to dry. It can take a few days to two weeks for the herbs to dry. You can also use a dehydrator to dry them faster. You want the leaves to retain some moisture to give them a smoother smoke.
Research has shown that peppermint plants can uptake nicotine from contaminated soils and that the concentration of this alkaloid in the plant is several times higher than the official maximum residue level set by European authorities. The concentration of nicotine in the plant decreases rapidly with time, suggesting either that the semi-volatile alkaloid merely evaporated or that it was taken up and then metabolised by the plants. Freeze-dried samples showed that nicotine did not evaporate and therefore was probably taken up by the plants and then metabolised.