• There are 15 common varieties of mint.
• Wintergreen frequently is mistaken for a mint plant, but is actually an oily chemical called methyl salicylate that is extracted from different plants.
• According to Greek mythology, the mint plant originated from a beautiful water nymph named Minthe who attracted the attention of Hades, the ruler of the underworld.
• During the Middle Ages, mint leaves were ground into a powder and used to whiten teeth.
• In Central America, the plant is known as yerba buena, meaning “good herb.”