Spearmint Tea: Benefits, Uses, and How to Brew It

Spearmint tea is a herbal infusion made from the dried leaves of Mentha spicata, a perennial mint with bright green, lance-shaped leaves and a mildly sweet, cooling flavour. It has been used as a household drink and a flavouring herb for centuries, and remains one of the most widely used mints in herbal tea blends.

At Austral Herbs, we offer certified organic spearmint leaf in cut and crushed formats, available in 250g, 500g, 1kg, and 5kg packs. Research suggests spearmint may influence hormone levels, memory, and joint comfort, though current studies are small and often use concentrated extracts. In this guide, we will explore what spearmint tea is, its potential benefits, and how to brew it properly.

Key Takeaways

Spearmint tea is brewed from the dried leaves of Mentha spicata, a perennial mint native to temperate parts of Europe and Asia. (1)
Its flavour comes from carvone and limonene, the aromatic oils behind its sweet, gently cooling character, with very little menthol compared to peppermint. (2)
Spearmint is a notable source of rosmarinic acid, a plant compound studied for its antioxidant activity. (3)
Small trials have investigated spearmint for androgen levels, working memory, and knee pain, with mixed and limited evidence. (5)(6)(7)
Austral Herbs sells certified organic spearmint leaf, cut or crushed, in 250g to 5kg packs.

What Is Spearmint Tea?

Spearmint tea, sometimes known as garden mint or common mint tea, is made by steeping dried spearmint leaves in hot water. The plant itself is native to temperate parts of Europe and Asia (1). It grows on the square stems typical of the mint family, featuring serrated leaves that reach around five to nine centimetres long. Once brewed, it yields a pale golden cup with a fresh, sweet, and herbaceous aroma.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring compound in standard tea leaves, but it is entirely absent from the spearmint plant, making the resulting tea completely caffeine free. This makes it a popular evening alternative to black and green tea. Its flavour is also the one most people recognise from chewing gum, toothpaste, and confectionery, where spearmint has long been the standard mint. That same gentle profile makes it a staple in herbal blends that require a soft mint note without overpowering the other ingredients.

The plant has a long history of human use. Valued for centuries as a flavouring herb across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and South Asia, spearmint has also played a role in historical herbal practice for settling digestive and respiratory complaints (4). It is important to note that these are traditional applications rather than proven therapeutic effects, meaning further clinical research is still needed.

Specifications & Characteristics

Attribute	Details
Botanical Name	Mentha spicata
Common Name	Spearmint, Garden Mint, Common Mint
Plant Part	Dried leaves, cut and crushed
Available Variants	Spearmint Herb Organic (cut leaf), Spearmint Crushed Organic (crushed leaf)
Flavour Profile	Mildly sweet and refreshing, with light cooling notes and low menthol
Aroma	Fresh, sweet, herbaceous
Typical Applications	Herbal tea infusions, botanical blends, beverage manufacturing, food manufacturing, culinary dishes
Certifications	ACO certified organic, processed under HACCP-certified food safety standards, NSW Food Authority compliant
Pack Sizes	250g, 500g, 1kg, 5kg (bulk and wholesale), depending on variant

Spearmint Tea Benefits

Research suggests a number of potential benefits of spearmint tea, although evidence remains limited and results have been mixed:

Hormone balance: In a 30 day randomised controlled trial, women with polycystic ovarian syndrome drank spearmint tea twice daily. Free and total testosterone levels fell significantly compared to a placebo tea, alongside increases in luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. (5)
Memory and focus: In a 90 day double blind trial, adults with age associated memory impairment taking a standardised spearmint extract improved quality of working memory by 15% and spatial working memory accuracy by 9% against a placebo, measured on computerised cognitive assessments. The trial used a concentrated extract rather than brewed tea, and participants already had some memory decline. (6)
Joint comfort: In a 16 week randomised study, participants with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis who drank spearmint tea twice daily experienced a decrease in pain scores. (7)
Digestion support: Spearmint has long been taken after meals as a carminative and has historically been associated with easing gastrointestinal discomfort. (4)
Antioxidant activity: Compounds found in spearmint, such as rosmarinic acid, have demonstrated antioxidant activity in laboratory testing. (3)

The information in this guide is provided for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. While spearmint has a long history of traditional use, our products are not intended to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider before adding new herbal products to your diet, particularly if you are on medication or pregnant.

How to Brew Spearmint Tea

While there is no single correct way to brew spearmint tea, finding the right approach simply comes down to personal taste. Whatever method you choose, the universal secret to a perfect cup is keeping the steam trapped to retain those aromatic oils and full flavour.

Hot and Cold Brewing Methods

Hot brew with cut leaves: Use one teaspoon of dried leaf, roughly 1 to 2 grams, per 200ml of water. Bring the water just off the boil, around 95°C, and steep for five to seven minutes with a lid on the cup or pot. The lid matters more than people expect, because it traps the aromatic oils that would otherwise escape with the steam. Unlike black tea, spearmint does not turn harsh or tannic with a long steep, so you can push it to 10 minutes for a stronger cup without bitterness.
Hot brew with crushed leaves: Crushed leaf has more surface area, so it releases flavour faster and needs less time. For this reason, three to five minutes is usually enough. Use an infuser basket or filter bag, since the finer particles will otherwise pass through a standard strainer. This format suits large-batch brewing and commercial beverage production, where consistent extraction across a big volume matters.
Cold brew and iced tea: Add two teaspoons of dried leaf per litre of cold water, refrigerate for 6 to 12 hours, then strain. Cold brewing pulls out the sweeter aromatic notes and leaves behind more of the astringency, which gives a rounder, softer result. This works well as an iced tea base and holds in the fridge for a couple of days.

Using Spearmint in Blends and Cooking

In a botanical blend: Spearmint is a natural blending herb because its cooling note lifts other botanicals without overwhelming them. It pairs cleanly with lemon myrtle for a citrusy cup of tea, with chamomile for a softer floral profile, with lemon balm for a softer citrus lift, with liquorice root for natural sweetness, and with ginger for warmth against the cooling finish.
In culinary recipes: Steep dried spearmint into syrups, stocks, marinades, and sauces the same way you would brew tea, then strain. It also works stirred through yoghurt, folded into lamb dishes, or scattered into salads and desserts.

How Much Spearmint Tea Should You Drink?

There is no recommended intake for spearmint tea, so start with one to two cups a day and speak with a qualified healthcare professional before drinking spearmint tea regularly for a specific health purpose.

Spearmint Leaf at Austral Herbs

At Austral Herbs, we supply two certified organic spearmint variants:

Spearmint Herb Organic is a cut leaf and suits loose-leaf brewing, tea blending, and culinary use.

Spearmint Crushed Organic is a finer crushed leaf and is ideal for tea bag filling, large-batch brewing, and food and beverage manufacturing where quick, even extraction is the priority.

Both are ACO certified organic and processed under HACCP-certified food safety standards. Organic certification verifies compliance with organic growing and processing standards, including restrictions on synthetic pesticides and fertilisers.

Order our certified organic spearmint leaf today, in pack sizes that suit everything from a home tea cupboard to a commercial production run.

Shop Now

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store spearmint leaves?

To maximise their shelf life, store spearmint leaves in an airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place. The aromatic oils responsible for the mint flavour are highly volatile, meaning they quickly degrade when exposed to heat, light, or air. Keeping them in an opaque container well away from stoves and sunny windows will retain their flavour far longer than a clear jar on an open shelf.

How much spearmint tea is safe to drink, and who should avoid it?

There is no official recommended intake, so one to two cups a day is a safe starting point. Participants in the trials referenced in this guide drank two cups daily for 30 days to 16 weeks, with no serious adverse effects reported (5)(7). Long term safety data beyond those windows is limited, so it's worth consulting a healthcare professional if you plan to drink it daily for a specific health reason. A few people should take extra care:

Pregnant or breastfeeding: There is limited safety data beyond ordinary culinary amounts.
Living with a hormone-sensitive condition: Spearmint has been shown to reduce androgen levels in a small trial (5), so discuss it with your doctor.
Taking hormone medications: Anyone on hormone therapy, anti-androgen medication, or fertility treatment should check with their prescriber.
Living with allergies: Spearmint can trigger reactions in people sensitive to plants in the mint family.
Managing reflux: Mints can relax the lower oesophageal sphincter, which may worsen reflux symptoms in some people.

What is the difference between spearmint and peppermint tea?

Spearmint and peppermint are entirely different species. Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is rich in carvone, the dominant compound in its essential oil, which gives it a sweet and mildly cooling flavour (2). Peppermint (Mentha × piperita), on the other hand, is high in menthol, which produces a much sharper, colder, and more intense sensation. Ultimately, spearmint is the gentler option of the two and blends far more easily with other botanicals.

Does spearmint tea help with acne or unwanted facial hair?

Possibly, but the evidence is thin. In a small trial, women with PCOS who drank spearmint tea twice daily for 30 days had lower testosterone levels and felt their excess hair growth had improved, though clinician assessments showed no change over that period (5). Since elevated androgens also drive hormonal acne, the same reasoning gets applied to skin, but no trial has tested that directly. This is one small study in women with a specific diagnosed condition, so it isn't evidence that spearmint tea helps with either in general.

Does spearmint tea contain caffeine?

No, spearmint tea does not contain caffeine as it is made entirely from Mentha spicata leaves. It contains no Camellia sinensis tea leaves, so it contains no caffeine at all. This makes it a popular choice for an evening drink right before bed or an excellent alternative for people trying to cut down on their caffeine intake.

Does spearmint tea help with bloating and digestion?

Spearmint has traditionally been taken after meals as a carminative, meaning a herb used to ease wind and bloating, and is associated in traditional practice with settling gastrointestinal discomfort (4). Clinical evidence in humans is limited, so this remains a traditional use rather than a demonstrated effect.

Does spearmint tea lower testosterone, and can men drink it?

There is no evidence that ordinary consumption affects male hormone levels, though human data is very limited. Research found two cups of spearmint tea daily modestly reduced testosterone in a small study of women with PCOS (5). An animal study showed no effect on male hormones or fertility at typical doses (8). Drinking it as a regular tea is unlikely to be an issue, but speak with a doctor before using it to influence hormone levels.

Does spearmint tea lower blood pressure?

There is no good evidence that spearmint tea lowers blood pressure (9). If you are managing high blood pressure or taking blood pressure medication, speak with your doctor before drinking spearmint tea regularly.

References

Mentha spicata L. — Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew — https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:451162-1
Mentha spicata Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities against Planktonic and Biofilm Cultures of Vibrio spp. Strains and Anti-Vibrio spp. Activities of the Essential Oil Isolated from Mentha spicata L. — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6332415/
Phenolic and Volatile Composition of a Dry Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) Extract — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6274304/
The traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.): A review — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34087400/
Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19585478/
Spearmint Extract Improves Working Memory in Men and Women with Age-Associated Memory Impairment — https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1089/acm.2016.0379
High-Rosmarinic Acid Spearmint Tea in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4259186/
Evaluation of possible toxic effects of spearmint (Mentha spicata) on the reproductive system, fertility and number of offspring in adult male rats — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4224956/
Effects of Mentha on blood pressure: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials — https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-024-04701-0

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Any references to traditional or historical uses are for context only and do not represent any therapeutic health claims for the products supplied by Austral Herbs.

Austral Herbs supplies ingredients only and does not claim that any products are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Customers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any ingredients, particularly if pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a medical condition.

Customers are responsible for ensuring that any finished products manufactured, marketed, or supplied using these ingredients comply with all applicable Australian laws and regulations, including those administered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and relevant food standards legislation.

Posted on September 23, 2026

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