4 Fresh and Delicious Ways to Preserve Mint Leaves

Perhaps you have been out walking along a stream's edge and discovered the smell of mint (​Mentha​ spp.) wafting through the air. Finding wild mint is fun and of course it can be transplanted (or cultivated mint plants can be purchased) to grow in your garden in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, depending on the mint species or cultivar.

During the warm summer months, mint grows plentifully, but as soon as the first frost hits, the leaves will turn black and wilt, making them unusable for flavoring and preserving. Preparing ahead of time to preserve mint leaves for winter will enable you to enjoy that fresh flavor until spring comes and your mint regrows from the roots.

Before you preserve your mint, you should ensure that you're harvesting it correctly:

1. Pick your mint first thing in the morning, cutting off 12-inch sprigs with a pair of sharp, clean scissors.
2. Give it a good shaking to make sure you are not carrying any stray bugs on the leaves or stems.
3. Rinse the cuttings under cold water and tie a length of cotton string or garden twine around the base of the stems.
4. Put the bundle of mint in a paper bag, then hang to dry in a warm, dry and dark area.
5. After a few days, the mint should be quite dry and brittle and it can be crunched and crumbled into a container to be used as dry tea leaves.

In order to get the full flavor of fresh mint, it's best to freeze it. Pick the fresh mint in the morning and remove the leaves from the stems. Simply pack them into a suitable freezer container of your choice and store in your freezer until ready for use.

If they freeze together in a clump, they can be crushed with a sturdy wooden spoon. These frozen leaves will be wilted when they thaw, but they will still have the essential oils and fresh flavor.

You can also freeze leaves in ice cube trays filled with water. When the water is frozen, pop the ice cubes into a freezer-safe plastic bag. Use the minted ice cubes in your favorite drink, such as iced tea or lemonade.

Whether you want to add it to a dish or make a minty cocktail, preserving mint in liquid form is a great way to use up all the extra leaves. Here's how:

1. Pick the fresh mint first thing in the morning and rinse clean.
2. Shake off any excess water.
3. Remove the leaves from the stems and place them in a decorative, food-safe jar or bottle.
4. Once about a cup of leaves have been placed in the jar or bottle, pour in about a quart of vodka.
5. Cover and set aside in a cool and dark place. The alcohol will dissolve the essential oils and flavors and leave you with a very strong mint-flavored vodka that can be used as is or as a flavoring in cooking. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor will get.

Making a mint syrup add a wonderful fresh mint flavor that can be used in drinks, ices, or even on toast or biscuits. Here's how to make it:

1. Add the freshly picked mint leaves to a simple sugar syrup and bring to a boil.
2. Turn off the heat and pour into bottles. The leaves can be left in for stronger flavor, or removed just before bottling.
3. Select your favorite home preservation recipe and follow the directions for canning jam and jellies to store without refrigeration.

Perfect as a sweetener for iced tea or to add a little extra something to baked goods, minted sugar is a cinch to make:

1. Layer the fresh and dry leaves on a layer of granulated sugar.
2. Cover with another layer of sugar.
3. Continue layering until the container is full.
4. Cover tightly and store for up to one month.