This ‘Menthe Verte’ from Damman Frères, acquired as a delightful sample during a shopping jaunt in Paris, offers precisely what one might expect: a straightforward yet pleasant expression of peppermint. The finely crushed leaves make for a refreshing infusion, although it’s fair to say that their modest size sacrifices some of the elegance you’d expect from a premium herbal tea like those from Camellia Sinensis in Montreal. It is, by all accounts, a good and simple mint, though hardly a revelation.
However, I cannot help but question the necessity of getting peppermint from France when Quebec’s own local offerings are equally robust and satisfying. A lovely infusion, to be sure, but hardly a compelling reason to forgo locally sourced herbs. Certain pleasures are best savoured within their local terroir.
