Habek Mint
By: Anonymous

About

Habek Mintis (known as horse or wild mint) is one of the true Middle East varieties used for the authentic "tabuleh" using bulgar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, plenty of parsley & mint, cool vegetables and maybe sunflower seeds. Two inch, very narrow, bluish-green leaves have a completely different look from other mints.  Habek requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings; this plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
The flowers are fragrant and bloom from mid-summer to early fall.

Information
Translations: Habek Νομισματοκοπείο, Habek منت, Habek mincovňa, Habek Monnaie, Habek mentă, Habek 민트, Habek mincovna, Habek מנטה, Habek Минт, Habek Munt, Habekミント, Habek टकसाल, Habek Casa de la Moneda, Habek Мінт, Habek薄荷, Marković Mint, Хабек Ковница, Habek Casa de la Moneda, Habek мента


Physical Description
The robust mint has pointed smoothly hairy leaves with a camphoraceous smell. The flowers are in long pointed spikes of mauve whorled florets like the flower spikes of the buddleia shrub from which it gets its common name.


Tasting Notes
Flavors: minty, peppermint
Mouthfeel: Soft
Substitutes: Peppermint, Spearmint


Selecting and Buying
Procuring: Mints like full sun and plenty of water. to Harvest;trim leaves from the top, before the plant produces flowers. Frequent harvests will keep the plant bushy and productive, but never harvest more than 2/3 of the plant at a time. Can be harvested until six weeks before first frost.



Preparation and Use
It is used in Middle Eastern and Greek cooking. The leaves are peppermint- scented and used as a flavoring in salads chutneys and cooked foods. A herb tea is made from the leaves. An essential oil obtained from the leaves and flowering tops is used as a food flavoring in sweets etc. A peppermint-like taste.


Conserving and Storing
Dry the leaves and store in an airtight container.


Social/Political

History: Because it is extensively cultivated in the Middle East, this species is presumed to be the mint of the New Testament. (Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42). The Pharisees paid their tithes in mint (Mentha longifolia 'Habak'), anise, and cumin according to Biblical record. Plains Indian used this mint for backaches and to treat the early symptoms of cholera