Once a month or so, I go
to the nearby nurseries
to see new plant
arrivals.And invariably,
I purchase a few plants
.The last time, a
nursery owner showed me
Pudina plants.sI brought
one and now it is
happily thriving in a
little flower pot in my
balcony.Pudina, or mint,
is the most widely used
spice.We use Pudina
every day, in different
forms, for various
purposes
What is Pudina
Pudina (Mentha or Mint)
is a genus of about 40
species and hundreds of
varieties of flowering
plants in the family
Lamiaceae (Mint Family).
In most parts of India,
it is known as Pudina.
Cultivation
Pudina are aromatic,
perennial herbs.
They grow best in wet
environment and moist
soil.
Most prefer partial
shade.Pudina plants
spread very fast.
They have a tendency to
spread unchecked and are
often invasive.
Therefore, they should
be planted in separate
pots.
Most mints can be easily
propagated by planting
cuttings from the
runners of healthy
mints.
They have wide spreading
underground rhizomes,
and erect, branched
stems.
The leaves are arranged
in opposite pairs with a
serrated margin.
The colours of the
leaves range from
different shades of
green to purple, blue
and pale yellow.
The flowers appear in
clusters on an erect
spike, white to purple,
in colour.
The fruit is a small dry
capsule containing one
to four seeds.
Till 1964, there was no
production of Mentha Oil
or Menthol in India.
The cultivation of the
species Mentha Arvensis
(which yields higher
percentage of oil) in
India is a dramatic
success story.The
cultivation of Mentha
Arvensis started in
Japan around 1870.
In 1964, Col. Mr. R.N.
Chopra and Dr. I.N.
Chopra of the Regional
Research Laboratory in
Jammu Tawi brought
Mentha Arvensis to
India.
Commercial cultivation
started in India through
the efforts of Hindustan
Richardson Ltd. (VICKs).Today,
India is the largest
grower of Pudina and
producer of Menthol and
Mint products in the
world accounting for 85%
of the global
production.
80% of the crop in India
is grown in Uttar
Pradesh.
The remaining 20% in
Punjab and Haryana.
The original Mentha
Arvensis has since been
developed into an
indigenous variety named
Mentha Shivalik,
MSI.
How to use Pudina leaves
Pudina leaves can be
harvested any time.
But the leaves have to
be cut off before
flowering to obtain the
maximum oil.Fresh Pudina
leaves should be used
immediately, or can be
stored for two to three
days in plastic bags
inside a refrigerator.
Pudina can be frozen in
ice cube trays.
Pudina leaves can also
be dried and stored in
an airtight container
and kept in a cool,
dark, dry area.
Pudina Ark or Mint
Oil
Pudina Ark or Menthol
oil is obtained from the
leaves usually by steam
distillation.
Menthol crystals and
flakes are obtained from
Menthol Oil by freezing
(chilling).
The liquid left after
extraction of the
crystals is called de-mentholised
or Peppermint oil.
Culinary Uses
Pudina leaves have a
pleasant, aromatic,
sweet flavor with a
cool, refreshing,
aftertaste.In India,
Pudina is widely used to
make the traditional
Dhania – Pudina chutney.
It is also used to
decorate other food
preparations.
Pudina leaves are also
widely used in teas,
beverages, jellies,
syrups, candies and ice
creams.
Pudina is also used for
flavouring meat, fish,
sauces, soups, stews,
vinegar, tea, tobacco
and cordials.
Pudina is a necessary
ingredient of Touareg
tea, a popular tea in
northern African and
Arab countries.
Pudina is also used to
flavor alcoholic drinks
like the Mint Julep and
Mojito.
Crème de menthe is a
mint-flavored liqueur
used in drinks, such as
the Grasshopper.
Medicinal and
cosmetic
Pudina and its Ark were
originally used to treat
stomach disorders and
chest pains.
Even today, Dabar
markets Pudinhara for
stomach disorders, such
as, indigestion, gas,
acidity, etc.
Menthol is the main
ingredient of cough
drops and ointments like
Vicks Vaporub.
Mint oil and menthol are
also used in certain
sugar candies like
‘Polo’, the mint with a
hole.
The dementholised oil is
used for flavouring
breath fresheners, mouth
washes, tooth paste,
chewing gum, and
pharmaceutical
preparations.
Menthol is widely used
in aromatherapy.
Insecticides
A mixture of Menthol and
camphor is used to give
relief in insect bites.
Mint leaves are often
used by campers to repel
mosquitoes.
Mint oil is also used as
an environment-friendly
insecticide to kill
pests like wasps,
hornets, ants and
cockroaches.
Recommendation
Pudina is a nice green
herb.
It is simple to grow.
Plant it in a wide
shallow pot.
Place it where there is
bright light, and
preferably sunlight, at
least a few hours every
day.
It grows fast.
You can nip off a few
leaves and chew them as
natural mouth freshener
or use them in other
ways.
Nutritional Values of
Mint (Pudina)
Parameters
Value per 100g
Moisture
Protein
Fat
Minerals
Fibre
Carbohydrates
Energy
Calcium
Phosphorus
Iron
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