Menta poleggio / Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

Pennyroyal is a perennial herb that it comes from Europe and western Asia. It belongs to the smallest species of peppermint and it is very different from all others. Although,fliskouni mint is the most aromatic type of peppermint, due to the huge amount of menthol that it has. Pennyroyal was used by ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, as a remedy for a variety of diseases. Hippocrates, Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder mentioned fliskouni mint as a plant of great medicinal value.

This great herb has many beneficial properties for the human body. In folk medicine it is believed that it stimulates the nervous system and heart. Moreover, this type of mint has the excellent ability to relieve flatulence, a problem that 40% of the population suffers. Due to the high concentration of menthol, this herb acts effectively against muscle spasms and stomach cramps. Pennyroyal’s tea is used to treat colic, heartburn, dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. Furthermore, the consumption of fliskouni in high doses seems to have aphrodisiac properties. At last, it is believed that the extended consumption of pennyroyal can help smokers to “clean” their lungs.

Fliskouni mint is mostly consumed as a beverage, but many people usually breathe its steams to improve respiratory system’s problems. In cooking, pennyroyal can be added in soups and salads to give its special flavor. In any case it can replace common peppermint.