peppermint, (Mentha piperita), strongly aromatic perennial herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Peppermint has a strong sweetish odour and a warm pungent taste with a cooling aftertaste. The leaves are typically used fresh as a culinary herb, and the flowers are dried and used to flavour candy, desserts, beverages, salads, and other foods. Its essential oil is also widely used as a flavouring. The plant is a hybrid between watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (M. spicata) and is cultivated in Europe, Asia, and North America.
