Ok, confession time.
I hate pumpkin spice.
Well. Not exactly. That’s sort of mostly moderately true.
I hate the phrase, “pumpkin spice,” and I hate that it’s EVERYWHERE and in EVERYTHING for months on end. And speaking of that, why on earth does a poinsettia need to be pumpkin spice-colored? Really? No. Emphatically, absolutely no. For the record? Pumpkin spice has zero pumpkin in it. None. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Pumpkin pie spice is the more appropriate phrasing; apparently that takes too long to type or say. Ok, fine. I do, however, absolutely loooooooooove the spices that are IN pumpkin pie spice: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, clove. Ok, so cardamom might only show up in my homemade version. The phrase, though? Not a fan.
My seasonal flavor obsession?
Peppermint.
When peppermint stuff starts showing up on shelves, I’m a very, very happy girl. Peppermint candy canes. Peppermint mochas. Peppermint ice cream. Peppermint & dark chocolate. Peppermint schnapps in hot chocolate. (Yes, I’m a health coach. Every so often, treats are good things!) Whatever form it comes in, I love peppermint! On second thought, mint & rum & citrus? Not a fan of mojitos. But otherwise, yes! It’s a cool, crisp, refreshing taste, and I can (almost) never get too much of it. (Almost.) And yes, I know, it’s something I can get all year if I want to. But there’s something about peppermint near the holidays in winter that is extra delightful. Maybe it’s that cool, crisp flavor going along with the cool, crisp weather.
Peppermint is also good for things that aren’t hot chocolate or candy canes.
Soothing an upset stomach. Calming the nerves in a cup of tea. Flavoring in toothpaste. (Side bonus! When I brush my teeth or eat something peppermint flavored, I’m less likely to snack. Not a lot truly goes well with the taste of mint toothpaste!)
The health benefits of peppermint are not entirely clear, and the research and results are not super straightforward. It can be very soothing, particularly when ingested as one ingredient in an herbal tea. Peppermint oil massaged into the stomach can help soothe gastrointestinal grumpiness; massaged into the temples it can help eliminate a headache. Taken in capsule form, peppermint may help calm the stomach muscles and soothe gastrointestinal grumpiness from the inside. (Note that if you have gastroesophageal reflex disease, or GERD, peppermint is not recommended.) It may have beneficial effects if you have a cold, a sinus infection, cramps, headache, muscle pain, or toothache.
In other words, it may (or may not) help with almost anything (or nothing).
At the end of the day, it’s still one of my favorite flavors and I’ve used the oil many times to soothe my tummy if I’m having issues.
Growing peppermint in your garden is problematic, for the record. The mint family is very, very invasive. This includes everything from peppermint to oregano. The plants spread rapidly by way of rhizomes, which means it’s going to go places you might not want it to go. The best way to contain peppermint but still enjoy it fresh from your garden is to grow it in a container; otherwise, plant it in a section of the garden and include deep edging to help guard against the rhizomes spreading.
So! Peppermint! What are your thoughts? Love it, hate it, can’t live without it?
Cheers! Here’s to your health!
