Mint

[unspeakablehorror]

I hated mint pretty unequivocally as a kid, excepting sometimes with chocolate (depending on the type of sweet involved). In fact I hated mint so much I didn't even want to use mint flavored toothpaste. I remember there was a time in my life when I was using fruit-flavored toothpastes simply because I found the mint flavor unbearable.

I'm more accepting of mint foods now, though I'd still describe myself as someone who doesn't like mint. For one I like more of the mint-chocolate combinations, and I'm fine with mint tea (my favorite is made from fresh mint leaves). And I'm fine with mint flavor in toothpaste now. In fact I even like some breath mints now. But I still generally prefer to sub out mint in savory foods, usually for cilantro, which I love. I wonder if people who hate cilantro usually sub in mint instead?

Comments

[rugessnome]

I think parsley is a more usual sub for cilantro. I always hear that cilantro is a love it or hate it sort of thing while I'm more ambivalent about it. (And generally I like parsley but at times the smell, if intense, seems to give me a headache).

I do like mint in savory foods and I've always liked "mint" (/creme de menthe in some cases) flavor and peppermint although it can be too strong, particularly peppermint altoids or in toothpaste/mouthwash. I like peppermint mochas far better than the PSL. I don't, however, particularly enjoy spearmint, and I find peppermint tea disappointing, though I've never tried it from fresh.

Now I'm curious how you feel about wintergreen, which I've also generally liked, and which was briefly available to me as a toothpaste and mouthwash flavor but no longer seems to be.

[unspeakablehorror]

I like parsley too--I can imagine eating that in place of cilantro, and I'd greatly prefer it to mint, but cilantro is my favorite. Can certainly understand feeling like a food is not terrible but not your favorite either. I've heard a few other people say the same about cilantro. It's probably just that people who have strong opinions on it tend to talk about it more often.

Since I only recently started eating mint, I don't really know how to distinguish between the different types yet. That's something I'd like to get better at though. I'm not sure what I think about wintergreen, but I still don't really enjoy the flavor of toothpaste or mouthwash per se, just the minty fresh feeling afterward. I just don't loathe it like I used to. And I'm not sure if I've had wintergreen in anything. Perhaps sometime I will have a chance to try it in a tea.

[cream_and_custard]

About a year ago I had some serious mint toothpaste fatigue. I also didn't want any other flavors because they skew sweet. I still dream of a savory tooth paste, specifically sauerkraut flavored 😍

I've never had mint in a savory dish before, that sounds interesting.

[unspeakablehorror]

I hadn't considered sauerkraut-flavored toothpaste! When it comes to food I prefer savory over sweet, but I think toothpaste that tasted like a savory food I liked might make me overly regretful about not being able to eat it. Should definitely exist as an option, though!