A mint plant.

What do the first weekend in May, 1,000 pounds of freshly harvested mint leaves and over 400 red roses have in common? The Kentucky Derby, of course. This legendary thoroughbred horse race held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, is the longest standing sporting event in the United States with origins dating to 1875.

Known as the Run for the Roses, it is steeped with traditions including the winner’s blanket of roses, the music, the hats, the celebrities and the drink of choice, mint julep. In fact, approximately 120,000 mint juleps are served during this spectacular weekend event.

The mint for this traditional drink is locally sourced from Dohn & Dohn Gardens, a 10-acre farm in Louisville. Two-and-a-half acres of the farm are dedicated to growing mint for the Derby. Although numerous varieties of mint, including peppermint, orange mint, apple mint and chocolate mint, exist, spearmint, Mentha spicata, is the mint to plant and harvest if you wish to join in the Derby festivities and make an authentic mint julep at home.

Fortunately, mint is an easy herb to grow. It thrives in Southwest Florida’s hot, humid climate, but prefers a bit of shade and moist soil. Unfortunately, if left unattended, its runners will spread rapidly taking over any moist patch of real estate in your garden. Plant mint in containers to control its exuberant growth habit. Some suggest cutting the plant back before it blooms or goes to seed to maintain its flavor, but you may want to allow several plants to bloom as it is also a beneficial plant for butterflies and other pollinators.

The plant is easily identified by its square shaped-stems and its deep green, serrated edged, lanceolate leaves. Its flowers can be pink, purple or white. When its leaves are rubbed between your fingers, they emit a very aromatic fragrance.

According to Amy Stewart (2013), author of “The Drunken Botanist,” mint plants arrived in the U.S. from Cuba via tourists “with sprigs of mint plucked from their mojitos,” another popular mint-based cocktail. Today, however, mint plants are easily propagated from cuttings or from dividing roots and shoots, creating the ideal opportunity to grow plentiful plants for fresh, flavorful teas and other beverages.

This popular and versatile herb is not limited to liquid libations. Its edible leaves and flowers add a sweet, menthol, refreshing taste to many dishes. Whether fresh or dried, mint leaves enhance salads, sauces, jellies, candies, ice cream and other culinary delights.

Numerous recipes using mint leaves can be found on the internet, but for the ultimate mint julep recipe, Stewart recommends the Walker Percy’s Mint Julep “intended to last all day.” Walker Percy is a southern writer whose recipe calls for 5 ounces of bourbon poured over multiple layers of a fine sugar paste, gently muddled spearmint leaves and finely crushed ice in a very tall glass.

“There is no second mint julep, just one large, powerful drink that grows gradually sweeter and more watered down as the ice melts and the sugar and bourbon settle together at the bottom of the glass.” It is sure to outlast the 5 hours of televised coverage of the Kentucky Derby. See you at post time at 6:57 p.m!

Cheers!

Deborah Haggett is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and a member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral. Visit us at www.gardenclubofcapecoral.com

References

Bush, A. (2021, February 4). At Churchill Downs, the Run for the Roses is Really About Mint. GardenRant. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://gardenrant.com/2013/04/the-run-for-the-roses-is-really-about-mint.html