What can I substitute for fresh mint?
Running low on fresh mint? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.
About fresh mint
Fresh mint is a aromatic herb with bright, cool, and refreshing flavour, widely used in both sweet and savoury cooking. It belongs to the Mentha genus, with spearmint (Mentha spicata) being the most common culinary variety. Fresh mint adds a distinctive cooling sensation to dishes, drinks, and desserts, and is a staple in cuisines ranging from Middle Eastern to South-East Asian.
Best substitute
dried mint
Dried mint retains the characteristic minty flavour but is more concentrated and lacks the fresh, bright quality of fresh leaves. It works well in cooked dishes, sauces, and dressings but is not ideal for garnishes or raw applications requiring texture.
Use 1 tsp dried mint for every 1 tbsp fresh mint
cooked dishessaucesmarinadesdressingsNot suitable for: garnishesNot suitable for: fresh saladsNot suitable for: cocktails
Alternative
fresh basil
Fresh basil offers a similarly bright, herbal freshness and works well in many recipes that call for mint, particularly in fruit salads, desserts, and savoury dishes. It lacks the cooling menthol quality but provides a pleasant aromatic complexity.
Use 1 tbsp fresh basil for every 1 tbsp fresh mint
fruit saladssavoury dishesdessertsNot suitable for: mint-forward cocktails
What is fresh mint called in other countries?
| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | fresh mint |
| New Zealand | fresh mint |
| United Kingdom | fresh mint |
| United States | fresh mint |
Common names for fresh mint
spearmintgarden mintcommon mintmint leaves