Mint, Money, and Myths

An old wives' tale says if you grow mint in the garden you will attract money to your purse. I've always had mint growing somewhere in the garden, often where I don't want it since it has a mind of it's own, but I don't think I've been attracting much money to my purse lately. Maybe I forgot to tell the mint.

Mint has so many uses that the stories and legends surrounding it are multiple. Walafrid Strabo, a 12th Century poet said: "If any man can name all the properties of mint, he must know how many fish swim in the Indian Ocean." He must surely be right in his thinking because again this herb is one of those that can go from the garden to the kitchen, medicine cabinet, or the bedroom.

The story goes that mint got it's name from a Greek nymph named Minthe, when Hades, God of the Underworld, made one of his few visits topside. He fell in love with the beautiful nymph and she in turn was smitten, for he arrived in a golden chariot drawn by four impressive black horses. He was caught in the act of seduction by his jealous wife Persephone, and she immediately stopped his plans by changing Minthe into the sweet-smelling plant that we know today.

We know mint to be a flavoring we find in toothpaste, breath mints and gum, and it also goes well with dark chocolate, in my estimation. In another month or so it will be time for the famous Kentucky Derby. Here is my recipe for that favorite beverage of the South called a Mint Julep:

Make a simple syrup by pouring equal parts of sugar and boiling water in a jar. Stir quickly until the sugar disappears. Cool, cover and refrigerate.
Chill 14 oz. glasses. In the glass, combine 2 1/2 oz. of good Bourbon, a handful of spearmint sprigs, and 1/2 oz. simple syrup. Fill with finely crushed ice and stir. Garnish with a spearmint sprig. Next get comfortable on your favorite front porch swing or on a luxuriously padded lawn chair under a shady tree and sip away all of your troubles while you dream of the wonderful people in your life and places you long to see! Ahhhh! What a life!


Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than emperors. Mary Cantwell