Spearmint is the sweeter, gentler cousin of peppermint. It has less menthol bite, which makes it better suited to everyday teas, infused water, breath freshening, and mild digestive comfort. The strongest clinical signal is not digestion, though: small studies suggest spearmint tea may influence androgen markers in PCOS-related hirsutism, but that evidence is still early.
Ingredient Data
| Catalog No. | 016 |
|---|---|
| Type | Herb |
| Source | Leaves of Mentha spicata, a sweet culinary mint |
| Common forms | Fresh leaves, dried tea, culinary extract, essential oil, standardized extract |
| Key compounds | Carvone, limonene, rosmarinic acid, flavonoids, small amounts of menthol |
| Best for | After-meal tea, nausea comfort, cooling drinks, breath freshening, gentle mint flavor |
| Peppermint comparison | Spearmint is sweeter and milder; peppermint has more menthol and stronger IBS/headache evidence |
Remedy Stats
Subjective ratings use a transparent rubric; Evidence is a hard, sourced fact. How we score →
Works For
| Use | Strength | What the evidence says |
|---|---|---|
| Digestive comfort | ●●●○○ | Spearmint tea is traditionally used after meals for gas, fullness, and mild stomach discomfort; direct clinical evidence is weaker than peppermint oil for IBS |
| Nausea comfort | ●●○○○ | Mint aroma and tea may feel settling, but human evidence for spearmint specifically is limited compared with ginger |
| PCOS-related hirsutism | ●●●○○ | Small human trials found spearmint tea reduced free testosterone and improved patient-rated hirsutism, but studies were short and need replication |
| Memory and focus | ●●○○○ | A proprietary spearmint extract high in rosmarinic acid improved some cognitive outcomes in older adults in company-associated trials; this is not the same as ordinary tea |
| Fresh breath | ●●●●○ | Spearmint flavor and aroma are widely used for breath freshening, though this is mostly sensory and oral-hygiene support rather than disease treatment |
| Congestion sensation | ●●○○○ | Spearmint is less menthol-heavy than peppermint, but its aroma can still feel cooling in teas and steam-adjacent comfort routines |
Spearmint vs. Peppermint
Spearmint and peppermint are both in the Mentha family, but they are not interchangeable. Peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint and watermint and contains much more menthol, which gives it a sharper cooling effect. That is why peppermint oil has stronger evidence for IBS and tension headaches.
Spearmint is softer and sweeter because its signature compound is carvone. That makes it easier to use as a daily culinary herb: fresh in water, steeped as tea, chopped into food, or paired with lemon and ginger. For Fresh Remedies, spearmint is the everyday mint; peppermint is the more targeted medicinal mint.
Forms & Preparations
| Fresh leaves | Add to water, tea, salads, yogurt, fruit, and sauces; gentler and sweeter than peppermint |
|---|---|
| Dried leaf tea | Steep 1-2 tsp dried spearmint in hot water for 5-10 minutes for a mild after-meal tea |
| Culinary extract | Used for flavoring; more concentrated than leaves, so use small amounts |
| Essential oil | Concentrated aromatic oil; dilute heavily, avoid internal use unless under professional guidance, and keep away from children |
| Standardized extract | Used in some cognition and hormone-related studies; not equivalent to a casual cup of tea |
About Spearmint
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a perennial herb with bright green leaves and a sweet cooling aroma. It is common in teas, chewing gum, tabbouleh, chutneys, yogurt sauces, and infused drinks. Compared with peppermint, it is less sharp and less likely to dominate a recipe.
Its research profile is mixed. WebMD and Cleveland Clinic both describe spearmint's evidence as limited for most uses, while acknowledging early research in hormone-related outcomes and cognition. A randomized trial in women with PCOS found changes in androgen markers after spearmint tea, but the study was short and not enough to replace medical care for PCOS, acne, or hirsutism.
For most people, spearmint makes the most sense as a gentle food herb: pleasant, hydrating, cooling, and easy to combine with ginger, lemon, honey, and chamomile.
Remedies Using Spearmint
| Remedy | Pairs with | Prep time |
|---|---|---|
| Spearmint Digestive Tea | Honey optional | 10 min |
| Mint Ginger Nausea Tea | Ginger, honey | 10 min |
| Cooling Mint Water | Lemon, cucumber optional | 5 min |
Sources
- Grant P. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Phytotherapy Research, 2010.
- Falcone PH, et al. Efficacy of a nootropic spearmint extract on reactive agility: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2018.
- WebMD. Spearmint: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews.
- Cleveland Clinic. Spearmint Tea Benefits. Dietitian-reviewed overview and safety notes.
- MedicalNewsToday. What are the health benefits of spearmint? Evidence overview and safety context.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Ask a qualified healthcare provider before using spearmint extracts, essential oil, or high daily intake if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing PCOS or hormone-sensitive conditions, have liver or kidney disease, or take regular medication.