# Peppermint or Spearmint? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 18, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759 "2022-09-18T16:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/21 "2022-09-18T19:31:22Z")
I grow both. Peppermint tastes richer to me. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/22 "2022-09-18T19:39:57Z")
My favorite minty flavor is wintergreen. But i generally prefer peppermint to spearmint. Spearmint might actually be a little better for gum, but it’s worse for everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/23 "2022-09-18T19:57:24Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Same here. I chose spearmint. But wintergreen over both for gum/mints A gum/mint for the winter, by the winter, and of the winter? > [@SmartAleq](#): > > Mint will basically do anything to keep on keeping on, as any gardener who inherited a house where some idiot planted mint but not in pots. In the far future, when humans are gone and my mom’s house is reclaimed by nature, I’m pretty sure it’ll be lemon balm (another mint) that does the reclaiming. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/24 "2022-09-18T20:38:08Z")
Folklore says I’m right but then again it could just be a flavor thing–peppermint from seed is milder and more spearminty so… Mint is a weird plant anyway, if it were a mammal it would have a terrible case of polymorphous perversity! ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/25 "2022-09-18T20:42:58Z")
Either one is fine, as long as it’s not wintergreen, which tastes like the devil’s ass. Since peppermint is usually what I buy, that’s how I voted. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/26 "2022-09-18T20:43:07Z")
I prefer spearmint for most things, both cooking and drinks. I find it more well-rounded and gentler than peppermint. For a breath mint, I’ll take peppermint, because it tastes stronger, otherwise spearmint. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/27 "2022-09-18T20:51:57Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > I chose spearmint. But wintergreen over both for gum/mints That is my answer as well. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/28 "2022-09-18T21:00:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A gum/mint for the winter, by the winter, and of the winter? Just keep your gum/mint hands off my dental care! Did I stretch this too far? I think I stretched this too far. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/29 "2022-09-18T21:45:04Z")
Spearmint for gum. Both for tea, especially ice tea. Peppermint for mints and with chocolate, whether coffee, brownies or candy. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/30 "2022-09-18T22:28:50Z")
I’m not racist about peppermint, but … in the world of milkshakes peppermint just tastes like runny toothpaste, while a spearmint milkshake is a sublime treat. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/31 "2022-09-18T23:13:08Z")
That’s not what Peppermint Patty told me. (Twenty years experience of running the tours, along with actual examples of the plants to show us.) And not what all the sites online say. I also would have voted for wintergreen had that been an option. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/32 "2022-09-19T01:19:14Z")
All you people talking about the sublime taste of real spearmint vs. real peppermint, remember, we’re talking about GUM here. Artificially flavored with most likely artificial sugar wrapped up in an indigestible mixture of polymers, plasticisers and resins. I chose peppermint. I used to like spearmint better, but over time my tastes have changed. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/33 "2022-09-19T01:39:31Z")
I didn’t select either because I scoff at your pathetic attempt to scare me… Hmm, what is that noise I hear outside? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/34 "2022-09-19T02:04:45Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > an indigestible mixture of polymers, plasticisers and resins. I, personally, have never eaten gum. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/35 "2022-09-19T02:54:10Z")
what, no pumpkin spice? runs away quickly🏃 ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/36 "2022-09-19T03:19:17Z")
or chocolate mint? which also is an actual plant also? when it does grow my aunt’s planter smelled like a Baskin robbins ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/37 "2022-09-19T03:25:40Z")
Ah, wintergreen (otherwise known as methyl salicylate)- that delightful taste of Pepto-Bismol! ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/38 "2022-09-19T03:29:06Z")
What’s the flavor of white Canada mints? I much prefer them over the pink ones. Actually, I don’t think I’ve seen either in a store for years… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/39 "2022-09-19T03:36:57Z")
Yeah, I’m a little surprised by all the love for wintergreen. It just tastes like medicine to me. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759/40 "2022-09-19T03:45:30Z")
What’s not to love? It’s the only flavor of Life Savers that sparks when one chomps down! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peppermint-or-spearmint/971759.md?page=3)