Description - Origin USA - Peppermint Leaves Cut - Cool and refreshing flavor and aroma - Scientific Name: Mentha Piperita - Family: Lamiaceae Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world. Peppermint oil has a sharp odor that's cool and refreshing. Its taste is similar. You may be familiar with the coolness in your mouth after you consume something with a peppermint flavor. The main chemical components of peppermint oil are menthol and menthone. Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians used mints, including peppermint, as medicine thousands of years ago. But peppermint wasn’t recognized as a distinct subspecies until the late 17th century. You can get peppermint leaf through tea, capsules, or as an extract.