Peppermint tea
Also known as: peppermint tea, mint tea, peppermint infusion, peppermint tisane, peppermint leaf tea, mint tisane
Herbal infusion of dried peppermint leaves (Mentha × piperita), not from the tea plant; the EU limits its pyrrolizidine alkaloids to 400 µg/kg of dry product.
Peppermint tea (mint tea, peppermint infusion) is brewed from the dried leaves of Mentha × piperita. No tea-plant leaf goes into the cup, so strictly it is an infusion rather than tea. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) names the peppermint leaf as the raw material in its monograph.
The first version of that monograph on Menthae piperitae folium appeared on 4 September 2008 and has since been replaced by a revision. According to secondary summaries of EMA documents, the 2007 draft already spoke of 4.5 to 9 g of dried leaf a day, taken in three portions.
The warnings matter more than the doses. According to an EMA summary (in a secondary account), peppermint may worsen heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux, and people with gallstones or bile duct problems should be careful. The infusion is meant for adults and children over 4; if symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, see a doctor.
Peppermint is one of the herbs allowed more pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the EU: up to 400 µg/kg of dry product, double the general figure for infusions. How other herbs compare is set out on the page Herbal and other infusions.
Mentha × piperita printed among the ingredients is the name that matches the EMA raw material. On water temperature, steeping time and flavour the official sources found are silent, so the producer's label is your guide here.
Why this matters to you: you know who EMA advises to be careful with peppermint, and can tell a mint infusion from real tea.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Peppermint, Mentha × piperita L.; not from the tea plant |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Dried leaves (Menthae piperitae folium) |
| Status | EMA/HMPC monograph, first version 4 Sep 2008, since revised |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2023/915: pyrrolizidine alkaloids up to 400 µg/kg of dry product |
How it connects to Tea & herbal infusions
Peppermint tea → similar → Chamomile tea → kind of → 🍵 Tea
Links
- Part of
- Herbal and other infusions
- Similar and different
- Chamomile tea, Thyme tea
Frequently asked questions
Can you drink peppermint tea with heartburn?
EMA warns that peppermint may worsen heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux. If these symptoms bother you, ask a doctor.
How much peppermint should you use for tea?
The 2007 draft EMA monograph spoke of 4.5 to 9 g of dried leaf a day in three portions (according to a secondary account). Official sources give no temperature or steeping time.
Who should be careful with peppermint tea?
According to an EMA summary, people with heartburn, reflux, gallstones or bile duct problems. If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, see a doctor.
Is peppermint tea real tea?
No. It is made from the leaves of peppermint, Mentha × piperita, not from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, so it is a herbal infusion.
Is it true that peppermint tea is fine for children of any age?
No. According to an EMA summary, peppermint infusion is meant for adults and children over 4; the 2007 draft did not even foresee use for children aged 4 to 12.
What to read next
- Chamomile tea — Herbal infusion of dried German chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita), not from the tea plant; caffeine-free, with two EU protected designations of origin from Czechia and Hungary.
- Thyme tea — Herbal infusion of dried flowering wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) or common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), not from the tea plant; the EU alkaloid limit for thyme is 400 µg/kg.
Similar
Linden tea · Fireweed tea (ivan chai) · Thyme tea · Rose hip tea · Yerba mate · Hibiscus tea (karkade)
Sources
- EMA/HMPC, Menthae piperitae folium
- EMA/HMPC, Community herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., folium (superseded final)
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 (contaminants)