The different uses for mint leaves in Caribbean culture may surprise you.
Having grown up in New York City back in the day, I have a lot of fond memories of weekend visits to my "Abuelitas" or Grandmothers. As a Cuba-Rican, this meant that I would alternate between my Cuban Grandmother Maria’s place in Brooklyn and my Puerto Rican Grandmother Beatrice’s place in the Bronx. Although I don’t know if these two beautiful ladies ever met, they shared a love of their respective islands and of the plants and herbs that made them think of home.
As a result, a weekend visit would often include a trip to the neighborhood botanica to pick up supplies. The term, "botanica" is what Spanish people called the stores that provided them with herbal remedies, cures and other religious goods. These trips were magical to me. The earthy fragrances, the stacks of tiny boxes, parcels wrapped in brown paper, plants both fresh and dried, and the colorful candles captured my attention in wondrous ways that I have never forgotten. Most mysterious.
One of the herbs that are in common use in both Cuba and in Puerto Rico is what we refer to as “Yerba Buena”. This Spanish phrase literally translates to “good herb” and is the name used for the peppermint plant.
Most of us recognize the muddled leaves from the mint plant as being an important ingredient in the traditional Cuban cocktail, the Mojito. We will cover the basics of crafting a Mojito at home in a future post.
What you may not know is that peppermint leaves can also be crushed or muddled to make a tea which is a wonderful cure for an upset tummy, whatever your age. Latin mothers have been known to make peppermint tea to quickly soothe a colicky baby. What other uses for peppermint are you aware of?
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