The mint you eat is not real mint?

Review expert: Shen Tingting

Botanical PhD

As a drink enthusiast, Xiaobian is particularly keen on various special beverages. For example, the super -hot "Mojito" some time ago let many people know this special cocktail from Cuba.

Mojito Source 丨 Baidu Encyclopedia

In order to engage in this cup of Mojito, the editor was prepared. There was an accident in the process. It turned out that the "mint" we bought daily was not real mint!

What is going on? I will tell you immediately.

Mint and "mint"

Mint, which is a lip -shaped mint, is a type of aromatic herbaceous plant. It is also a widely used Chinese medicinal material. Its medicine and food are used. The earliest records are found in "Tang Bencao".

In modern life, mint use scenarios are very rich. It can be used as spices for toothpaste, gum, candy, and can also be used in medicines such as anti -inflammatory and analgesics, wind -driven itching effects.

Mintha Canadensis Source 丨 Wikipedia

The world's Mentha plants include about 18 species and 13 natural hybrids. Although the "mint" family is not large, it looks similar, and it is easy to hybridize between the types. Differentiated clearly. When we mention "mint", often refer to Mentha Canadensis, this "mint" is not the "mint". The "mint" we eat daily is actually another plant called Liulan incense. Essence

Mentha Spicata is also a perennial herbaceous plant with lip -shaped and mint. It has many other nicknames, such as coriander, green mints, green mint, croaker and coriander. At present, the domestic Zuxiang is basically cited in Europe, and it is mostly cultivated in Yunnan, Guizhou and other places.

The sources of the inflorescence of Lilan incense 丨 Wikipedia Encyclopedia

The difference between Lilan Xiang and Mint is more obvious, because the inflorescences of the two are very different. Essence

In addition, Li Lanxiang is very special, that is, there is almost no petiole in its upper stems and leaves. It is this that makes it easy to distinguish between mints from other categories. When ordinary people are picked, they can also distinguish them well.

Why can Li Lanxiang act as mint?

Speaking of mint flavors, what we have remembered is not only the fresh mint aroma, but also the unique coolness. This coolness is mainly produced by mint and mint.

Mint volatile oil chemical ingredients mainly contain a large amount of mint and mint, which has a strong and strong taste and cool stimulation. The volatile oil chemical ingredients of Lanxiang mainly contain norcene ketone and lemonine. Milky ketone and lemonnite make the Zi Lanxiang have a sweet and soft "mint" aroma. Therefore, although the fragrant mint "aroma of" mint "can not provide" authentic "mint flavors.

Source of mint sugar 丨 pixabay

Li Lanxiang was originally used as a fresh agent, because it has a fresh and fragrant smell, so it is widely used in the production of toothpaste and gum. In order to make this "mint flavor" more realistic, in the toothpaste and gum, it will be added with the fragrance and mint extract at the same time, so that they have the aroma and coolness at the same time.

Mint ice cream source 丨 pixabay

Due to the different ingredients, the taste of Liulan fragrance is relatively fresh and gentle, while the taste of mint is more spicy and exciting. Therefore, Li Lanxiang is also regarded as a kind of mint type, which is often used in various ice cream. In the cold drink, it can be accepted by more people.

Where does the coolness of mint come from?

For many mint enthusiasts, they like mint not only because of the unique mint aroma, but also the cool stimulation on the tip of the tongue.

The coolness of mint comes from a large amount of mint alcohol contained in mint. Mint, also known as mint brain, has a colorless needle or cylindrical crystal in appearance. The common wind oil essence and flower dew water in our daily life contain a large amount of mint.

Stick glycol molecule model

Source 丨 Wikipedia Encyclopedia

How does mint alcohol make people feel cool?

The human body perceives cold and cold, which is adjusted by the skin temperature experience system. According to the reaction characteristics of dynamic stimuli, it is divided into heat sensors and cold sensors.薄荷醇使人感到清凉，并不是因为其有降低温度的本事，而是因为薄荷醇能激活人体皮肤和口腔中神经末梢上感受寒冷的受体蛋白，使得它们向大脑传送信号，从而使人体产生Cool feeling.

Therefore, in the hot weather, while we were blowing the cool air conditioner and drinking the mint flavor ice drink, it can double the coolness immediately ~

Source 丨 pixabay

Speaking of which, do you have more understanding of "mint"? Regardless of mint or leaving Lanxiang, everyone can choose to use it according to their preferences. The vitality of the mint family is very tenacious and grows rapidly. If you have a friend who has a preference for planting, you can also try to plant a pot at home. Not only can you eat it, you can also add a trace of aroma to the home. It is also a beautiful thing ~

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