How to dry peppermint for tea

It’s harvest time (do I hear Bringing in the Sheaves?), and we’re clipping the peppermint in our outdoor kitchen to dry for tea, because one of these days soon, it’s gonna cool off around here and a hot cuppa will hit the spot. Here’s how to dry your own mint.

Peppermint, ready for a haircutClip the mint and give it a good bath.

A bientôt, bugsTake handfuls, wrap a rubber band around each one, and hang them up somewhere out of the sun to dry. I thumbtacked the bundles to the wall above my desk.

 Looks nice, eh? Smells good, too.Wait about a week until the leaves are good and crisp. Then scrunch the bundles to loosen the dry leaves from the stalks.

It helps to work over a big bowl.Squeeze the leaves to break them up into little bits, and pull out the little stems.

 Wow, all that mint goes down to this.

  Okay, winter, bring it on!P.S. We like the strong mintiness of peppermint for tea, but here are six more mint varieties you can think about growing for drying and cooking.