mint

Also known as “yerba buena”. Mint is generic for the leaf of peppermint or spearmint, used interchangeably in cocktails and related drink forms since the early 19th century or earlier, as a garnish, flavoring, or in preparation form, as a mixer. Often specified as an unquantified “sprig” of mint, a sprig being a stem of mint with 3 or more mint leaves growing out of it. Suffice to say 6 to 8 leaves of mint is appropriate for most drinks calling for mint sprigs or leaves (such as Juleps and Mojitos), but otherwise lacking a listed quantity. Also used as garnish. Note: the mint family is quite diverse, both in cultivated and wild, regional forms. The creative application of regionally-available (culinarily suitable) mints is one of the pleasures of mixology.