Honey and Mint: Fresh Drinks, Sauces and Salads
Honey and mint are a refreshing pairing that brightens drinks, sauces and salads. Mint's cool, clean aroma lifts honey's sweetness and keeps it from feeling heavy, which is why the two show up together in Moroccan tea, summer lemonades and herby sauces for lamb. This article covers types of mint, a honey mint syrup, drinks, savory sauces, fruit salads and which honey suits each. For a hot drink version, see peppermint tea with honey.
For general education only, not medical advice. Our honey is a food and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Types of mint
Spearmint is the mint most used in cooking, with a sweet, gentle flavor. Peppermint is stronger and more cooling because it has more menthol. Other varieties include apple mint, chocolate mint and Moroccan mint, a spearmint variety prized for tea.
| Mint | Flavor | Best with honey in |
|---|---|---|
| Spearmint | Sweet, mild | Salads, sauces, lemonade |
| Peppermint | Strong, cooling | Tea, chocolate desserts |
| Moroccan mint | Bright, clean | Mint tea |
| Apple mint | Soft, fruity | Fruit salads, drinks |
Honey mint syrup
Bring half a cup of water to a boil, remove from heat and add a large handful of fresh mint leaves. Steep for ten minutes, strain, then stir in half a cup of honey until dissolved. Keep in the fridge for up to a week. Use it to sweeten drinks, drizzle over fruit or brush onto cake.
- Half a cup boiling water
- Large handful of mint
- Steep 10 minutes, strain
- Stir in half a cup honey
- Refrigerate up to 1 week
Honey and mint lemonade
Mix one cup of fresh lemon juice with half a cup of honey mint syrup and four cups of cold water. Add ice, lemon slices and mint sprigs. Adjust sweetness to taste. Sparkling water instead of still makes a fizzy version.
Our honey lemon water guide has more lemon ideas.
Moroccan-style mint tea
Moroccan mint tea is traditionally made with green tea, a big bunch of spearmint and plenty of sugar. Honey makes a lovely alternative. Brew green tea, add mint, steep a few minutes and sweeten with honey to taste. Pour from a height to create a little foam, as is done in Morocco.
Our article on green tea with honey covers brewing temperatures.
Honey mint sauce for lamb
Finely chop a cup of mint leaves and mix with two tablespoons of honey, three tablespoons of white wine or cider vinegar and a pinch of salt. Let it sit for 20 minutes. It is a fresher, less sugary take on the classic British mint sauce for roast lamb.
Honey and mint fruit salad
Toss watermelon, cantaloupe, berries or citrus with a spoon of honey mint syrup and a squeeze of lime. Garnish with torn mint. Watermelon with feta, mint and a drizzle of honey is a classic summer salad.
Our article on honey and berries has more fruit pairings.
Grain salads and yogurt sauces
Mint and honey brighten tabbouleh-style salads, couscous and lentil salads. Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, a teaspoon of honey and chopped mint for dressing. Stir mint, garlic and a little honey into yogurt for a cool sauce to serve with grilled meats or vegetables.
Mint-infused honey
Gently bruise a handful of completely dry mint leaves and push them into a jar of honey. Leave for one to two weeks, then strain. Leaves must be fully dry, since moisture can cause fermentation. Use mint honey in tea, on yogurt or over fruit.
Which honey suits mint
Raw Clover Honey, harvested in New York State, is mild and lets mint lead in drinks and syrups. Raw Orange Blossom Honey, from Florida, adds citrus that suits lemonade and fruit salads. Raw Wildflower Honey brings depth to lamb sauce and grain salads.
A note about peppermint oil
Fresh mint in food is safe for most people. Concentrated peppermint oil is different. The NIH's NCCIH notes it can cause heartburn and should not be applied to the faces of infants and young children. Stick to fresh leaves in cooking.
Growing mint
Mint grows vigorously and can take over a garden, so plant it in pots. It likes moist soil and partial shade. Bees love mint flowers, so letting a few stems bloom helps pollinators.
Storing fresh mint
Trim the stems and stand mint in a glass of water in the fridge, loosely covered with a bag. Change the water every couple of days. It keeps for about a week this way.
The takeaway
Honey and mint are a bright, refreshing pairing for drinks, sauces and salads. Make a honey mint syrup to keep on hand, use spearmint for cooking, and choose mild honeys to let mint shine.
Honey and mint for chocolate desserts
Mint and chocolate are a classic pair, and honey ties them together. Stir a little honey mint syrup into hot chocolate, or drizzle it over dark chocolate brownies. Our article on honey and dark chocolate has bark and ganache recipes that welcome a few chopped mint leaves.
Honey for your mint recipes
Try Raw Clover Honey for syrups and Raw Orange Blossom Honey for lemonade. Save with a 3 jar or 6 jar pack of any honey, and orders over $50 ship free. Visit our shop.
Sources
Outside health sources we used for this article. They open in a new tab.
- Peppermint Oil · NCCIH (National Institutes of Health)
- Honey: nutrient profile · USDA FoodData Central
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit (infants and toddlers) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Frequently asked questions
- How do I make honey mint syrup?
- Steep mint in hot water for 10 minutes, strain and stir in an equal amount of honey.
- Which mint is best for cooking?
- Spearmint, for its sweet, mild flavor.
- How do I make honey mint sauce for lamb?
- Mix chopped mint, honey, vinegar and salt, then rest 20 minutes.
- Can I infuse honey with mint?
- Yes, using completely dry leaves for one to two weeks.
- Which honey goes with mint?
- Clover for drinks, orange blossom for lemonade, wildflower for savory sauces.
- How do I keep fresh mint longer?
- Stand stems in water in the fridge, loosely covered.
- Is peppermint oil the same as mint leaves?
- No. The oil is concentrated and needs more caution.
Al Safa Honey is a food producer, not a medical provider. Nothing here is medical advice, and these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Talk to your doctor about any health concern. Never give honey of any kind to a baby under 12 months old.
