Mint is a labiate plant, and in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is used as an diaphoretic and antipyretic. For middle-aged and elderly people, eating some mint congee can clear the mind and refresh the spirit, dispel wind and heat, increase appetite, and aid digestion. Making a "cool soup" with mint at home can both quench thirst and relieve summer heat, so it's worth a try.
Mint Soup: Wash the mint leaves, chop them, blanch them in boiling water, and add a little salt and sesame oil. It has the effect of refreshing the mind, detoxifying, and reducing internal heat.
Mint Iced Tea: Wash fresh mint leaves, steep them in boiling water, add an appropriate amount of white sugar, and let it cool naturally. Drink 3-5 cups a day. It naturally cools and relieves summer heat, leaving the body comfortable and boosting energy.
Mint Congee: Decoct 15 grams of mint in water, add 60 grams of japonica rice to make congee. When the congee is almost done, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar and bring to a boil. It can be served warm for breakfast or dinner.
Mint Ice: Boil 4 bowls of water, add mint and cook for 5 minutes. Pour the mint water into an ice tray to make ice cubes. When you have a sore throat or dry mouth, take an ice cube and chew it. In summer, when the temperature is high and people often move between air-conditioned places, they are prone to colds. To prevent and treat colds while also soothing the throat and promoting saliva, mint ice is the best choice.
Mint Tea: Use mint to make tea, in the same way as regular tea. It utilizes the wind-dispelling and heat-clearing effects of menthol and menthone in mint. Drinking it as tea has a cooling sensation and is a good remedy for clearing heat and promoting urination.
Mint Wine: Prepare 10 grams of mint oil, 50 ml of rice wine, and 0.05 liters of yellow wine. Mix the mint oil with the rice wine and yellow wine and drink it on an empty stomach in the morning and evening. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, strengthening the stomach, and soothing the throat.
Honeysuckle and Mint Tea: Brew mint and honeysuckle with boiling water, cover and steep for 5 minutes, then add honey.
Indications: Heat rash
Reminder: Mint is cooling in nature and should not be taken for a long period.
Anti-fatigue Drink: Fresh Cucumber-Soybean Combination
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Ingredients (for four): One cucumber, 1/2 liter of soy milk, 3 mint sprigs
Preparation method:
1. Peel the cucumber. Put it in a blender and blend.
2. Add soy milk and picked mint leaves. Blend.
3. Serve immediately.
Therapeutic Diet
Mint has both medicinal and edible uses, with the main edible parts being the stems and leaves; it can also be consumed as juice. In cooking, mint can be used as a seasoning, a spice, or paired with alcohol or steeped in tea.
Mint Congee
30 grams of fresh mint or 15 grams of dried mint, 1 liter of water. Decoct over medium heat until about 0.5 liters of liquid remains. Remove the mint and keep the liquid. Cook 150 grams of japonica rice into congee, and when it is almost done, add the mint liquid and a little rock sugar, then bring to a boil.
Effects: Refreshes the mind and spirit, dispels wind and heat, increases appetite, and aids digestion.
Mint Tofu
2 blocks of tofu, 50 grams of fresh mint, 3 fresh scallions. Add 2 bowls of water and simmer until the water is reduced by half. Eat while hot.
Effects: Can treat cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, and a runny nose.
Mint Chicken Shreds
150 grams of chicken breast, cut into thin shreds, marinated with egg white, starch, and a little salt. Wash 150 grams of mint stems and cut into similar-sized pieces. Heat oil in a wok to 50% hot, quickly stir-fry the marinated chicken shreds. In another wok, add a little base oil, then chopped green onions and ginger, add cooking wine, mint stems, chicken shreds, salt, and a little MSG. Stir-fry briefly and drizzle with sesame oil.
Effects: Reduces internal heat and relieves summer heat.
Mint Cake
Take 500 grams each of glutinous rice and mung beans, 15 grams of mint, 25 grams of sugar, and a little osmanthus. First, cook the mung beans until soft, then add sugar, osmanthus, and chopped mint leaves to make a filling. Steam the glutinous rice until cooked, let it cool in a container, then use the glutinous rice to wrap the mung bean filling and flatten it with a wooden mallet.
Effects: Cooling, dispels wind and heat, soothes the throat.
Fresh Mint Carp Soup
1 live carp, cleaned and gutted. Cook in water, add 1 scallion, 1 slice of ginger, and 20 grams of fresh mint. When the water boils, add seasonings, oil, and salt. Eat both the soup and the meat. Eat once a day for 3-5 consecutive days.
Effects: Can treat a child's persistent cough.
Mint Soup
Wash the mint leaves, chop them, blanch them in boiling water, and add a little salt and sesame oil.
Effects: Detoxifies and reduces internal heat.
Beauty Benefits
As it turns out, mint also has beauty benefits. Mint tea can be used to wash hair, eliminating dandruff and leaving hair feeling fresh with a natural fragrance that invigorates you. Applying mint juice externally can make your skin smoother. Additionally, brushing your teeth with dried mint leaves over time can whiten your teeth and freshen your breath.
Usage and Precautions
This is to remind everyone that although mint has its benefits, postpartum women who are breastfeeding should avoid consuming it, as it can reduce milk supply. Furthermore, because mint contains essential oils, boiling it for too long will diminish its medicinal effects.