Peppermint & Mint Tea

What Is Mint Tea?

Mint tea is a herbal tea brewed from the dried leaves of mint plants. Unlike black or green tea, it doesn't come from the Camellia sinensis tea plant, so pure mint tea has no caffeine. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita), a natural hybrid of spearmint and water mint, is rich in menthol, which gives peppermint tea its sharp, cooling finish. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) has far less menthol and a sweeter flavor. Moroccan mint tea blends mint with gunpowder or other green tea and is usually served sweet.

Much of the peppermint here comes from the Pacific Northwest. Harney & Sons uses peppermint leaves from Washington for its Peppermint Herbal and sources its organic peppermint from Oregon, Culinary Teas says its peppermint "hails from the Cascade Mountains in Washington state," and Smith Teamaker's No. 45 uses Pacific Northwest peppermint. Somage's organic peppermint comes from Egypt, and Danfe's spearmint is grown in the Himalayas.

Mint Tea Styles in Our Collection

Pure Peppermint Tea

A single-ingredient peppermint tea is the classic after-dinner cup, and a refreshing mint cup in place of coffee. Harney & Sons Peppermint Herbal is, in the brand's words, "brisk, clean, and wonderfully aromatic, with a crisp mint finish." For organic peppermint tea in individually wrapped tea bags, look at the Harney & Sons Organic Peppermint box of 50. Culinary Teas Peppermint Herbal Tea ("a very vibrant peppermint, which literally takes your breath away") also comes as an organic peppermint tea. Loose Leaf Tea Company Peppermint Willamette is "bold but smooth," Tea with Tae Peppermint uses US-grown peppermint leaves in pyramid sachets, and Somage Peppermint comes in pyramid bags or loose.

Pure Spearmint Tea

Spearmint makes a milder, naturally sweet cup that's easy to sip all day. Culinary Teas Spearmint Herbal Tea is harvested in the mountains of Washington State, with taste notes the brand lists as "minty, fresh, cool," and Loose Leaf Tea Company Spearmint also comes from Washington State. Danfe describes its whole-leaf Himalayan Spearmint as "naturally sweet mint" with a "gentle cooling lift." FreshDrinkUS Spearmint Tea Bags come 135 to a resealable bag.

Moroccan Mint Tea

Because it is made with tea leaves, Moroccan mint tea contains caffeine. Tea with Tae Moroccan Mint blends gunpowder green tea with spearmint for a flavor the brand calls "sweet, minty, vegetal, oceanic." Not every Moroccan mint uses spearmint: Harney & Sons Organic Moroccan Mint pairs organic gunpowder green with organic peppermint leaves from Oregon, and Culinary Teas Organic Moroccan Mint also uses peppermint. Palais des Thés Organic Mint Green is half Chinese tea and half nana mint, a spearmint variety. For more strength, Culinary Teas Moroccan Madness uses black tea.

Chocolate Mint Tea

Harney & Sons Chocolate Mint blends Chinese black tea with peppermint leaves from Washington and chocolate and vanilla flavors, and Culinary Teas Chocolate Mint Black Tea tastes like "an after dinner mint in a tea." For a dessert cup without tea leaves, choose rooibos: Piper and Leaf Minty Midnight mixes red rooibos with dairy-free chocolate chips, cacao nibs and peppermint. Culinary Teas Chocolate Mint Rooibos adds cacao bean pieces, and Plum Deluxe White Chocolate Peppermint blends red rooibos and honeybush with peppermint, cocoa nibs and coconut.

Mint Blends and Citrus Mint Tea

In blends, mint brightens fruit and flowers. Piper and Leaf Piper Mint Blues combines spearmint and peppermint with blueberries, blackberries, ginger and butterfly pea flowers, and Beach House Mountain Valley Mint blends organic peppermint and spearmint with lemon verbena, basil and apple. For a citrus mint tea, Plum Deluxe Citrus Mint Green mixes Chinese green tea with lemongrass, lemon balm, spearmint and orange peel. Peppermint also pairs with tea leaves, from Harney & Sons Organic Green Tea with Organic Peppermint to Culinary Teas Peppermint Black.

Iced Mint Tea

Mint keeps its refreshing flavor when chilled, which makes it a favorite tea for summer pitchers. Each pillow bag of Tea with Tae Moroccan Mint Iced brews 2 quarts, Tea with Tae Caribbean Cooler is a caffeine-free mix of hibiscus, ginger, spearmint and peppermint, and Beach House Olympic Mint blends green rooibos, jasmine, peppermint and lime peel.

Peppermint vs. Spearmint Tea

Peppermint is the more potent of the two, because peppermint leaves carry much more menthol. Spearmint tea is sweeter and softer, closer to spearmint gum. Both are naturally free of caffeine, both work hot or iced, and many blends use the two together. Want a strong, invigorating mint? Start with peppermint tea. For a lighter cup to sip all day, start with spearmint. Our guide to spearmint vs. peppermint tea goes deeper.

Shop Mint Tea by Brand

Because we carry peppermint and mint tea from many makers, you can compare brands side by side, find your favorite tea and check out in one cart.

Peppermint Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf Tea

Tea bags are all about convenience: no measuring, no strainer, the same cup every time. Individually wrapped tea bags, like Harney & Sons organic peppermint in boxes of 50 or Tea with Tae's bag of 50 wrapped sachets, travel well, and pyramid sachets leave room for larger leaf pieces. Loose tea gives you more control over flavor and quantity, and whole leaves often bring more flavor to the cup: it is sold by weight, from 1 oz samples up to bulk bags of a pound or more, so you can brew a mug or a pitcher, adjust the strength, and add fresh leaves of mint or a slice of ginger yourself. Fresh leaves from the garden also work well alongside dried mint. Eco-conscious shoppers will also find biodegradable sachets and compostable packaging, and several brands pack loose tea in tins you can reuse. Browse all loose leaf tea or tea bags.

What Does Mint Tea Taste Like?

Peppermint tea tastes cool, sharp and clean, with a fragrant menthol tingle that lingers after each sip and a clean, refreshing finish. Spearmint tea is lighter, sweeter and rounder. Moroccan mint tea adds the grassy, slightly toasty taste of green tea under the mint for a more balanced cup. A bit of honey, sugar or other sweeteners softens the peppermint flavor. Most people skip milk with pure mint, though chocolate mint black teas can take a splash of milk. Read more about what peppermint tea tastes like.

How to Make Mint Tea

Hot Mint Tea: Water Temperature and Steeping Time

Pure peppermint tea and spearmint tea need hot water just off the boil and a few minutes to open up. Harney & Sons steeps its Peppermint Herbal at 212°F for 5 minutes, Culinary Teas suggests 1 to 2 teaspoons at 205–212°F for 5 to 7 minutes, and Tea with Tae steeps its peppermint in 8 oz of 212°F water for 5 to 6 minutes. A longer steeping time gives a stronger, more minty cup. Mint blends made with green tea need a lower water temperature: Harney & Sons brews its Organic Moroccan Mint at 175°F for 3 minutes, and Tea with Tae steeps its Moroccan Mint at 170°F for 3 to 5 minutes. Black tea mint blends go back to hot water: Harney & Sons steeps its Chocolate Mint at 212°F for 5 minutes, and Culinary Teas brews its black mint teas at 205–212°F for 4 to 6 minutes.

Iced and Cold Brew Mint Tea

For a pitcher, start with a hot brew. Tea with Tae steeps one Moroccan Mint iced pillow bag in a quart of hot water for 5 minutes, then adds a quart of room-temperature water and chills it or pours it over ice. For cold brew, Plum Deluxe adds 1.5 flat teaspoons of tea to 8 oz of cold water and leaves it in the fridge for 8 hours. Keep brewed iced tea in the refrigerator (40°F or below) and drink it within 2 to 3 days. Our guides to making iced tea and cold brew tea cover the basics.

Moroccan Mint Tea Recipe

This recipe makes just under 3 cups, enough for four to six small glasses. Use any Moroccan mint blend from this collection, or plain gunpowder green tea plus fresh mint.

• 1 tablespoon gunpowder green tea or a Moroccan mint blend
• 3 cups water for brewing, plus 1/4 cup to rinse the leaves
• A large handful of fresh spearmint sprigs (or fresh peppermint for a sharper cup)
• 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar (optional, to taste)

Bring the water to a boil and let it rest for a minute. Put the tea in a teapot, pour in the 1/4 cup of hot water, swirl and pour it off to rinse the leaves. Add the 3 cups of water and steep for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the mint and sugar and steep 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour into small glasses; in Morocco the tea is often poured from a height for a light foam. This traditional method uses hotter water than the label directions above; for a gentler cup, follow the label. For a caffeine-free version, skip the tea leaves and steep fresh mint or a pure spearmint tea for 5 to 7 minutes.

Peppermint Tea Benefits

Peppermint tea has a long history as an after-dinner drink, and part of its appeal is simple: it is a flavorful, caffeine-free alternative to coffee or soda, with no sugar when you drink it unsweetened. Its refreshing sensation comes from menthol.

Researchers have looked at peppermint for digestive comfort, but most of that work used concentrated peppermint oil in capsules rather than a brewed cup, and studies on peppermint tea itself are few and small. More research is needed, and mint tea is an enjoyable drink, not a way to treat any condition. If you have questions about mint tea and your health or any medication, ask your doctor. Read more about peppermint tea benefits.

Mint Tea FAQ

Does mint tea have caffeine?

Pure peppermint and spearmint teas have none, because mint plants don't produce any. Blends with green tea, black tea or yerba mate do; Tea with Tae, for example, rates the caffeine in its Moroccan Mint as medium. Each product page lists the caffeine level, and you can shop all caffeine-free teas.

Is peppermint tea the same as spearmint tea?

No. Peppermint tea is stronger and more cooling, while spearmint tea is sweeter and milder. Some blends, like Beach House Mountain Valley Mint and Piper and Leaf Piper Mint Blues, use both.

How long should you steep peppermint tea?

About 5 minutes in boiling water is the usual starting point for a peppermint tea bag or loose leaf; for pure peppermint and spearmint, the brands here suggest anywhere from 5 minutes (Harney & Sons) to 5 to 7 minutes (Culinary Teas). Mint blends with green tea need cooler water (170–180°F) and 3 to 5 minutes, while black tea mint blends take near-boiling water for 4 to 6 minutes.

Can you drink peppermint tea while pregnant?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor or midwife before drinking peppermint tea or other herbal teas.

What is the difference between Moroccan mint tea and regular mint tea?

Regular mint tea is just mint leaves, so it is caffeine-free. Moroccan mint tea adds green tea, so it has caffeine and a grassier flavor, and it is traditionally sweetened with sugar.

Can you drink mint tea every day?

Mint tea is an everyday drink for many people, but there is no official daily amount. If you have health questions, your doctor can tell you what makes sense for you.

Want a short list first? See our picks for the best peppermint tea, or keep exploring herbal tea, iced tea, chocolate tea and green tea.