Spearmint tea and peppermint tea use different mint plants. Their similar names can hide an important distinction when you are comparing ingredients or looking for a familiar flavour.
Two botanical names
Spearmint is Mentha spicata. Peppermint is Mentha × piperita, a hybrid associated with spearmint and water mint. Kew records these botanical identities. They are related plants, but one name is not a substitute for the other.
A mint name can be broad
A packet labelled simply “mint tea” may need a closer look. It could use one mint ingredient or combine several. The full description can identify which plant is included and whether the tea also contains other herbs or flavourings.
Comparing the actual cups
For a taste comparison, the two products need their own preparation instructions. A plain mint infusion and a sweetened mint blend will not offer a fair comparison of the plants alone. Aroma, intensity and finish can all be part of your tasting notes.
Other directions to explore
Mint is only one branch of herbal tea. Readers who enjoy discovering individual ingredients can also explore lemongrass or Caribbean leaf teas. These are different options, not equivalents to spearmint or peppermint. This comparison is educational rather than a claim that K&M stocks either mint.
Background reading: Kew’s peppermint record.
More from K&M Herbs
Explore our current tea and gift range and download our free herbal tea and wellness book for more about K&M Herbs.
Related reading: What Is Single-Ingredient Herbal Tea?.