A nous les Pimm's, Mohito's and barbecues, mint has arrived! Mint is a perennial that grows pretty much without care in almost all conditions. This makes it a great plant to have in your garden or on kitchen windowsills. It will become your best friend as the weather gets warmer, so handy for adding refreshing touches to your dishes and drinks. Its leaves, which grow from May through to late September, are a delight to both the nose and tastebuds. Just crush a leaf between your fingers and already you feel quenched, with the sun warming your neck and your woolly jumper magically turning into a crisp white linen shirt. The two most commonly found members of the large mint family are peppermint and spearmint (which is what you find on the market stalls), the latter being extensively used in cuisines all over the world. Other less common but great fun varieties include pineapple flavoured, apple, orange, banana, or even chocolate mints. Mint has remarkable medicinal properties. Packed with anti-oxydants, its freshening and germicidal properties have made it a key ally in oral health. Its strong aroma also helps opening up congested noses, lungs and throat, giving some relief in colds and respiratory disorders. Mint is well known for its ability to promote digestion, soothe stomach aches and help with irritable bowel syndrome. If you ate too much or feel a bit quizzy, make yourself a fresh mint tea by pouring hot but not boiling water over a bunch of fresh leaves. Cover the pot while the tea is seeping to prevent the valuable volatile oils from evaporating, and drink it warm. You will feel instantly refreshed and with a lighter stomach. When buying mint chose it with fresh, green leaves without stains or yellow leaves. Keep it in your fridge for up to a week with the stems dipped in a glass full of water (as with flowers) and the leaves covered with a pierced plastic bag. Mint freezes well also, so if you don't use all your bunch within a week, freeze the leaves spread on a flat surface then store them in a sealed bag. You can also chop them and freeze them in water in an ice cube tray. These are perfect for adding a fresh twist to your soups or stews and whipping up a quick post-work Pimm's without premeditation!