1 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Savor, a production of I Heart 2 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: Radio and Stuff Media. And I'm Lauren Vocalbaum and today 3 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: we're talking about mint. Mint, Yes, finally and Annie can't 4 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: eat stuff. There's there's been at least well there's been 5 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: a couple that you don't like, right, I can't tea 6 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: to use another one? Um and uh, I do love 7 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: mint and I am determined to do. We discussed off 8 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: air that potentially I can have certain types of like 9 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: mint candies sure that that are just made with like 10 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: a mental oil rather than an actual like peppermint oil. 11 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: Like like we need to we need to figure out 12 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: which chemical in mint is the one that disagrees with you. 13 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: There is a York peppermint patty at my disk and 14 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: I'm going to do it at the end of the workday. 15 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: So okay, Yeah, that's that's wise. That's a good play 16 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: on thank you. And it's not severe like I just 17 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: get like gry mouth and tingling and nausea, cramped stomach. 18 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: I mean it's not fun. No, it's not no, but 19 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: tooth taste like it took me years. Oh no, I 20 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: feel so sick after I brush my teeth. Yeah, it 21 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: was the mint it was the mint. Well, um, I 22 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: can eat it and it's delicious. I'm sorry, No, I'm 23 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: so happy. I'm so happy this is finally happening. I 24 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: hope you enjoy it, Lauren. It's refreshing, just like mint. 25 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: There you go, which brings us to a question, mint, 26 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: what is it? Well, mint is a genus of herbs 27 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: sometimes called Mentha and also like even higher up in 28 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: the taxonomic system, it's a family of herbs called lemmy 29 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: en c A, which includes everything from basil to time 30 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,559 Speaker 1: to rosemary and lemon balm. But today we're talking about 31 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: the genus Mentha. Yeah, m hm. Mints tend to be perennial, 32 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: meaning that although they will die back during freezing winters, 33 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: once you plant them, the roots will take hold. Grasp, hold, grab, violently, hold, 34 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: and we'll come back year after year. In some cases, 35 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: like peppermint, they are so vigorous partially because their root 36 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: systems are the only way that they can reproduce. Like 37 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: peppermint is a wild hybrid of spearmint and water mint 38 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: that's sterile. It does not produce seeds. Yeah yeah, which 39 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: means that genetically every peppermint plant is nearly identical to 40 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: the very first peppermint plant ever identified. Cool like bananas, 41 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: their clones exactly exactly. Mint stems are square in the 42 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,679 Speaker 1: cross section, which just always delights me. I don't know, 43 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: and I don't know why. I just really like it anyway. Um, yeah, 44 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: the leaves and stems can be anywhere from green to 45 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: grayish to purplish, the flowers anywhere from white to purple. 46 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: And there are a lot of types of mint. Yeah. Yeah, 47 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: I think when we chose this topic, I was I 48 00:02:58,760 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: knew it was going to be a big one. Best 49 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 1: kind naive about, like it'll be simple. No, there's a 50 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: lot of types of mint um, peppermint, spearmint um. So 51 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: there are thirteen to eighteen species in the mint family. 52 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: Are that's the general consensus. Because I've found different things. 53 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: I thought that would be like, no, no, there never 54 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: really is like a single number. It's like, well, it's 55 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: you know, squidgy, squidgy, because at some places it was 56 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: it seemed very definite, was twenty five, other places like no, thirteen. Anyway, 57 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: I think I think it's I saw the numbers thirteen 58 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: to eighteen in multiple places, Okay, multiple places at thirteen eighteen, 59 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: So that's what we're saying, and they grow all over. 60 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: And yet anyone who has tried to grow mint are 61 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: not tried to grow mint. It grows, It grows whether 62 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: you want it to or not. Basically, yep. Different types 63 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: of mint or native to Eurasia, Australia, North America, and Africa. 64 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: And nowadays you can find different types of mint growing 65 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: all over in temperate climates. Even though there are probably 66 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: thirteen to eighteen species in the mint genus, there are 67 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: over two thousand varietals. Within those species, they interbreed really easily. 68 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: Um penny royal, by the way, is one of those species. 69 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: And I was today old when I learned that. I 70 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: always I had seen the word penny royal all over 71 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: the place, and I was like, oh, that must be 72 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: some quaint British thing that I will never understand. The 73 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: British version of Pennywise, the clown. Oh no, why would 74 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: you say that? I mean, it had to be said Lauren. 75 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: It's not it's not like a royal. This this isn't 76 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: this isn't pulp fiction. Okay, Like we didn't need a 77 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: British version of Pennywise. I kind of think we do. 78 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: Now I'm going to eat your face, Like, what, No, 79 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: that's I mean, We've got written down to a pet 80 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: because that's what it is, Pip pip gurio. Yeah, oh goodness, 81 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. I apologize for that. Yeah. Um. Some some 82 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: things that are called mint, though, just to mark up 83 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: the waters a little bit more, um, are are from 84 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 1: totally different genuses, like, for example, Brazilian bush mint. Um. 85 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: It's a close cousin. But yeah, taxonomy is hilarious, is 86 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: what it comes down to. Yep, very very hilarious. And 87 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: another thing that makes this interesting is that meant itself 88 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: is kind of a category. And when people say mint, 89 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: they usually mean spear mint because it's like the flavor 90 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: in most toothpaste is spearmint. I think I think it 91 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: could be. I feel like most people think of peppermint 92 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: when they think of mint, because spearmint doesn't actually contain mental, 93 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 1: which is one of the I mean, it contains a 94 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: couple related compounds. But yeah, I think it's in the 95 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: research realm of mint. That's what I read is that, Yeah, 96 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: generally we mean spearmint, and I think it's the mint 97 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: flavoring in a lot of it's like added in. It's 98 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: strange because they're synthetic menthol and then mint flavoring and well, anyway, 99 00:05:54,640 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: it's confusing, it's it's it's a category of flavors. Yes, 100 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: and um, it tastes cold because because some of the 101 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: compounds and mint, perhaps primarily mental, interact with the same 102 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: nerve endings in your mouth that detect physical cold. It's 103 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: triggering the exact same sensation in your brain. That's pretty cool, 104 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: sort of like capsaius and triggers heat. Oh yeah, um. 105 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: And there are a lot of volatile oils in mint, 106 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: different ones, in different concentrations, in different types of mint. Uh. 107 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: These these are oils that we tend to experience as 108 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: flavors because they interact with some of the nerve endings 109 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: in our mouth and nose. Another common one is limiting, 110 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: which is citrusy. Most of these oils are produced by 111 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: the so called these these weak glands that are all 112 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: over minced skin on the leaves and stems and flowers, 113 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: and they're basically a defense system against bugs, both insects 114 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: and microbe bugs. Yeah um, sort of sort of like 115 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 1: big chemical warfare water balloons just all over the plant. 116 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: At a micro scopic level, you know, something tiny enough 117 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 1: disturbs these glands, they'll burst with all of these oils 118 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: all over the unfortunate creature. Um. And some of these 119 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: oils are even toxic to humans in large enough amounts. 120 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: But yeah, as with other plant defense systems like suckers, 121 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: humans decided we liked that. Yeah, we don't care, so 122 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: they're um. And these these glands are protected from just 123 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: blowing off of the skin of mint by time of 124 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: little spikes, which is why mint leaves feel a little 125 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: bit fuzzy. Man, listeners, you are missing a lot of 126 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:37,559 Speaker 1: excellent hand gestures. I gotta say I'm extra gesture today. 127 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: I like it. Uh yeah, but okay, so um so. 128 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: So those glands being all over the surface of mint 129 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: is why you can just like gently brush against a 130 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: mint plant and come away with that scent on your hand. Um. 131 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: It's also why you should be gentle with mint when 132 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: you're using it in cocktails. Are cooking most of that 133 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: desirable flavors right there on the surface. The actual use 134 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: of the mint leaf and stem is a little bit 135 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: bitter and kind of unpleasant. So, for example, like if 136 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: you're making a mohito, you don't want to muddle the 137 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: mint hard enough to juice it you just want to 138 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: bruise the skin and flatten those little spikes, letting those 139 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: balloons release their oils. M hmm sounds good. Oh, I 140 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: had to experience the sadness. I was like, oh, maybe 141 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: I'll try and out. No, no, no, don't do that. No. 142 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: But what about the nutrition of mint. Mint is another 143 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: one of those herbs that can bring a lot of 144 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: flavor to dishes without adding a lot of calories, right, 145 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: and it has so many fascinating medicinal potentially medicinal properties, 146 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: and throughout history it has been believed to possess medicinal qualities. 147 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, by essentially everyone who is ever interacted with 148 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: it because of because of those cooling properties that I mentioned. Um, 149 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 1: you know it features in aeravetic and traditional Chinese and 150 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: sutern humoric medicines. People once thought it could induce perspiration 151 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: and menstruation. One of the reasons why I meant got 152 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: this rep of healthy um on a level that made 153 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: it stand out from other fragrant herbs is because of 154 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: that cooling sensation of menthol And I just I hadn't 155 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: considered it until I really considered it. But like the 156 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: phrase breath mints for someone like me. I can't. I 157 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: don't get mint flavor, but I still call it a 158 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: breath mont. It's solidified its position cinnamon breath mint that 159 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: contains no ment cinnamon. I tried that for a while 160 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: and still I don't know. Mint can also act as 161 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: a pain killer and a pest repellant. It can reduce 162 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: itching from insect bites, and it's used in some decongestions 163 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: as well as medications that treat some burn. Yeah, those 164 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 1: volatile oils that I mentioned a minute ago can have 165 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: other effects on our bodies as well as producing flavor. 166 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: Some product the eastmant Oils are using it in like 167 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: a folk medicine kind of application, and some do use 168 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: it for that flavor. For example, neither mint nor menthol 169 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 1: have been confirmed to actually work as decongestions in your 170 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 1: sinus tract, but they do clinically make people feel like 171 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,719 Speaker 1: they're breathing easier, um, and they might be relieving a 172 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 1: little bit of the pain associated with sinus inflammation, because 173 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: there is definitely research confirming some of mints uses uh 174 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: topically on the skin for itching, not just insect bites, 175 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: all kinds of itchy problems for treatment of gastro intestinal 176 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: issues like irritable bowl syndrome taken in the specially prepared 177 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: pills to that that passed through the stomach undigested. Peppermint 178 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: oil does seem to have a relaxing effect on smooth 179 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: muscle tissue, which is the kind that your that your 180 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: guts are made of. M And as a pain reliever, Oh, 181 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,959 Speaker 1: this one is cool. Okay, so uh we we already 182 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: talked about how compounds in mint can can interact with 183 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,719 Speaker 1: those same nerve endings that detect cold. Well, you have 184 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: a variety of nerve endings throughout your body d that 185 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: can do that. To one. Such receptor found in a 186 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: small number of nerve cells in your skin does this 187 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: interesting thing When it texts cold, it inhibits pain signals 188 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: from being sent from that area to the brain. And 189 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: this is rad because it might be able to be 190 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: used topically safely to treat neuropathic pain. That that's pain 191 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: caused by damage to your nerves themselves or by something 192 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: going wrong in your in your pain signaling system. These 193 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 1: types of pain tend to be chronic, and it's what 194 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: opioids are prescribed for. I think, like rheumatic diseases, tension, headaches, 195 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: stuff like that. So, yeah, more clinical research does need 196 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: to be done, but the preliminary research is pretty solid. 197 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: That's awesome. Yeah. I should say here that, as with 198 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: any potential remedy, consulted doctor before you go putting medicinal 199 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 1: doses of anything in or on your body, especially take 200 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: care of your pregnant or nursing. Don't don't rub in 201 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 1: an oil on a baby. No we are Do not 202 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,839 Speaker 1: get to your medical advice from a food podcast. Never 203 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: do that. Never take our advice about anything to do 204 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: with babies, especially probably. Yeah, that's fair. Yeah, that's fair. Um. 205 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: When I was looking at mint sensitivities and allergies to 206 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: get to the bottom of whatever is the deal with 207 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: me and mint, I found several studies that suggest an 208 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 1: allergic reaction to mint can lead to asthma. Also, the 209 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: culprit behind my allergy or whatever it is, could be 210 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: the same thing that it can relate to aspirin and tea, 211 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: which I also really I don't know if it's allergic, 212 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: but I got a problem with both those things. Well, 213 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: more research to be done, more research, And speaking of 214 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: more research, we have some mint numbers. We do peppermint 215 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: in speriments are the most commercially grown varieties of mint. 216 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 1: According to something I read, the global demand from mental 217 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: is twenty thousand metric tons, but only thirteen thousand metric 218 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: tons is sourced from plants. Yeah, the U s d 219 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: A classified spearment as an invasive species in Tennessee in 220 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: other parts of the South. Grow your mint in pots, y'all. 221 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: Lauren has a very serious look on her. I'm very 222 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 1: serious about it. I've heard tell of mint, I think 223 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: from you. Um, I'm a little I'm a little nervous 224 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: about the whole thing, to be honest. Um. And you 225 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: can find mint in everything, all kinds of things, gum, toothpaste, 226 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: fragrances for candles, liquors, ice cream, teas, hot chocolates, cocktails, candies, jellies, medicine, 227 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 1: cop chops, chapsticks, and savried dishes, particularly with lamb. It's 228 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 1: a very English and or Irish thing. Yeah. Yeah, there's 229 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: a world of men out there. There is there is. 230 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: It's really popular around Christmas time here in the US, 231 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: and I would wager probably other other places as well. 232 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: Particularly peppermint candy canes are the number one non chocolate 233 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 1: selling candy. The month of December in the US. And yes, 234 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: I don't want to do an episode on candy canes 235 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,839 Speaker 1: so badly now because they have just a plethora of 236 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 1: fun myths around them. I took time that I should 237 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: have been spending researching other things looking at candy canes. 238 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: That episode is coming later, but not today. Yeah. Yeah, 239 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: rap rabbit holes are real, y'all, they are. We should 240 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: do you remember when we did gingerbread in the middle 241 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: of summer. Yeah, we should do an annual like the 242 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: middle of summer Christmas food episode. Yeah, I like it. 243 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: I like that tradition absolutely. Well, we've got some history 244 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: for you, but first we've got a quick break for 245 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: a word from our sponsor, and we're back. Thank you sponsoring, Yes, 246 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: thank you. So. The minta genus most likely first originated 247 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: in the Mediterranean and Europe and or Asian and Africa, 248 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: depending on the type um all the way back to 249 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: at least three b mint was seen as a symbol 250 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: of hospitality. Folks would strew them at banquets to welcome 251 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: guests and also in general to keep mice away either 252 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: in the home or wear grain resort, and also they 253 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: would wear them as crowns like sounds you know, I 254 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: like that. According to Greek mythology, Hades loved a nymph 255 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: named Mentha, so a jealous persephone his wife transformed Mentha 256 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: into a plant. But Hades, hoping to make things a 257 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: little more bearable for her life as a plant, gave 258 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: her a sweet fragrance, hoping folks would have would appreciate 259 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:43,239 Speaker 1: your sweetness. Um. And another version, I found persephones stomped 260 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: on Mytha until she was dust, and Hades brought her 261 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: back to life as the fragrant mint plant. And I 262 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: went on a whole green with nva rabbit hole after 263 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: reading that. But I uh, it turns out it's our 264 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: old pal Shakespeare probably that that gay. There are multiple 265 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: multiple versions of that myth. Those are the two work 266 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: the basics. Yes, and this is where the word meant 267 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: probably derives from that name, which itself probably came from 268 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: a dead pre Greek language, Yeah, which in which it 269 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: was the name for the plant like the mint. The 270 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: myth is an origin story for this plant that was 271 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: already familiar to everybody. Time is a flat circle speak 272 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: speaking of flat circles. Um. Interestingly, the word mint meaning 273 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: like a place that printer stamps money is from a 274 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: different Latin root monita, meaning money makes sense. I guess. 275 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: I guess it's also if you if you type in mint. 276 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: The first couple of results I've found were for the 277 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: U s mint, other types of money mint place absolutely anyway. 278 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: The ancient Greeks were fond of mints, and they used 279 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: it in their funerals in their homes as a freshener 280 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: and as a remedy for indigestion. Mint did get an 281 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: association with death as well, and that's one of the 282 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 1: reasons it was used at funerals, perhaps because of this myth. 283 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: Yeah um, and it was used to cover the smell 284 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: of the dead. Asian Egyptians might have used mint as 285 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 1: a currency because it was so prized for its perceived 286 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: cleansing abilities. Mints were described as a tithing herb in 287 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:29,920 Speaker 1: the Bible. Oh yeah, yeah. The Pharisees were like to 288 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: give us money or mint, whichever. It's fine, money are mint, 289 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: and then money mints. I know it's all there. Plenty 290 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: of the Elder wrote about ment in first century CE, 291 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: advising students to wrap mint around their heads to delight 292 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 1: the soul for the good of the mind and more 293 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: efficient learning. Basically clear your mind, you'll concentrate better. Okay. Yeah. 294 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 1: Aristotle also wrote about mint, but he warned soldiers should 295 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: avoid it before battle because it might diminish their willingness 296 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: to fight. Like the concept was like they might chill 297 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: out so much, or that they might just be so 298 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 1: happy that they're smelling this lovely ment that they're just like, nah, yeah, 299 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: what what's this all for anyway? Why can't we just 300 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 1: be friends? Okay? Yeah? The first mentioned in Chinese literature 301 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: maybe from four seven d C. In Oh, Annie, would 302 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: you help me with this one? They Gong Powl, which 303 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: is sometimes translated as Master Lais Mustard lays Uh Treatise 304 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 1: on the preparation of Medicines or some variant thereof. So 305 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: they certainly back towards that time, and probably for a 306 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: long time before they already had the medicinal uses in there. Yes, 307 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: going on. Peppermint has been distilled into oil in Japan 308 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: for centuries as well. Some of the first mouthwashes out 309 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 1: of medieval Europe, where a mixture of mint leaves and vinegar, 310 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: or or more simply folks would just chew on the 311 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: mint leaves. Mint infused steam vapor was used in sick rooms, 312 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: to add frequent says to a bath as sort of 313 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 1: a nerve stimulant, to give relief to dry hands, to 314 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: treat dog bites, all kinds of things. Herbalist John Gerrard 315 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:13,959 Speaker 1: wrote that spearmint rejoiceth the heart of men. Oh, I mean, 316 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: I mean not your heart, maybe not your stomach. Yeah, 317 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: my heart is briefly happy. There's like a two minute 318 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: window where I'm like. And then commercial mint production got 319 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: underway in Britain in the seventeen fifties. Mint made its 320 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: way across the Atlantic with the first Pilgrims. And Okay, 321 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: so when you think of mints, or at least when 322 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: I think of mint, one of the first things I 323 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: think of is dental hygien Sure. Yeah, so if we 324 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: kind of go down that path. Altoid's got their start 325 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: in the eighteen seventies, a product of London confectionery Smith 326 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: and Company, marketed as a stomach souther rather than a 327 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,959 Speaker 1: breath Sshner. The high dose of peppermint extract made them 328 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: far more concentrated than the leaves themselves. By this point 329 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,880 Speaker 1: we see the earliest analyzes of menthol like scientific what's 330 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: going on here? Yeah, yeah, but yeah, no, I mean, 331 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: like like other lozenges of the time, this was definitely 332 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: like an entrance into being actual candy, Like there's layers, 333 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: there's layers. Simultaneously, dentist Washington Sheffield invented toothpaste, a mixture 334 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Meant along with other flavors, 335 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 1: were added into that to mask the flavor. Beca says, 336 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 1: you can imagine baking soda and hydrogen peroxide not the 337 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: most delicious on their own, No, definitely not. And then 338 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: we get listering. Listering comes onto the scene in eighteen 339 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 1: seventy nine a combo of eucalyptol, which is alcohol infused 340 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: with eucalyptus time all and menthol dentists began using it 341 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 1: on their patients, and in nineteen fourteen, listening convinced the 342 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: public at large that they had bad breath and they 343 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: needed listening to solve it. It was probably true, the 344 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 1: first part anyway, the second part, that's fair, that's fair. 345 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: The association of the cooling of the menthol and breath 346 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 1: freshening was really starting to solidify at this point, as 347 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: mint was becoming more popular in the US, more and 348 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 1: more states started to grow it, but the two front 349 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 1: warners were New York and Michigan. Huge fields of peppermint 350 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: and spearmint turned into oils and ex checks after being 351 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: distilled into vats and to read. These operations were huge 352 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: um and in the early twentieth century, Michigan accounted for 353 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: of the global mint flavoring market, but then in the 354 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: a blight of fungus wiped out a lot of the 355 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: mint crop. Mint production shifted over to the Northwest, with 356 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: growers attempting to breed a blight resistant crop. Up until 357 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: the ninety nineties, Washington State and Oregon turned out the 358 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: bulk of the world's mint flavoring. But with the advent 359 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: of cheaper synthetic flavoring and cheaper extracts and oils from 360 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: places like China and India, a lot of the major 361 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 1: companies have moved away from U S mint producers. And 362 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 1: speaking of China and India, they both began cultivating mint 363 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 1: in the nineteen sixties commercially, and if we step back 364 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: a bit further to post World War Two, Brazil got 365 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: in on the mint game, with other South American countries following. 366 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: Soon after Brazil and speaking of synthetic menthal, the company 367 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: Harmon and Rhymer g mbH, the same company that was 368 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: the first to commercialize synthetic vanilla, figured out synthetic menthal 369 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 1: in nineteen six or the first iteration of it. The 370 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 1: Takasago International Corporation out of Japan perfected the process of 371 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: synthetic menthal in two thousand one. I do think recently 372 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: there have been even more perfections of it. You can't 373 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: perfect a perfection, you can perfect a process of creating 374 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: something that yeah, you know what I mean. And I 375 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: wanted to mention this as well, because in classic and 376 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: classic savor style, we missed this whole thing. But I 377 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: was interested. The McDonald's shamrock shake okay, yes, all right? 378 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 1: Is that mint flavored? Oh? Exactly exactly okay? Um debuted 379 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 1: in v and after it went off the menu for 380 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: a minute in the nineties, it came back in two 381 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: thousands due to customer demand, and in two thousand twelve 382 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 1: it became nationally available in the US, but outside of 383 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,679 Speaker 1: that is kind of rare. A few places in Canada 384 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: and Ireland have them. So I guess, yeah, shamrock shake, 385 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: what is it? Well? Um? It is a super neon 386 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: green milkshake. But yeah, no one's entirely sure what the 387 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 1: flavor is. I from my childhood, like to be fair, 388 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: I have not had these in one of these in 389 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 1: a very long time, but I thought it was just 390 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 1: a vanilla milkshake that was just green. That makes sense 391 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 1: and possibly true. Okay, So some sources say it began 392 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: as a lemon lime sherbet type thing, yeah, and then 393 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: evolved into plain vanilla, died green in nineteen seventy three, 394 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: and then in three evolved again to mint. If you 395 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 1: look up the nutritional info, you'll find that it's vanilla 396 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: flavored with shamrock syrup and that flavor comes from natural 397 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:53,159 Speaker 1: flavored parentheses. Plant source, which we would assume isn't mint. Well, 398 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: I mean, plant source can be anything. I mean, it 399 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,719 Speaker 1: could be vanilla as well. I mean it could I mean, 400 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: it could be a lot of stuff. It could be licorice. 401 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: Oh my good news. We need somebody to get to 402 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: the bottom of this. It seems the general consensus seems 403 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: to be that there is mint involved somehow, now, okay, 404 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,120 Speaker 1: but it is mostly vanilla, like it's a light it's 405 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: a lightenment mint flavor and nowadays, there's multiple flavors like chocolate, 406 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: Shamrock Shake, UM and especially designed straw shake, and the 407 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: Shamrock Shake is credited with helping in part to create 408 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: the Ronald McDonald house. Charities you can see are we 409 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: don't really talk about specifically this, but you can see 410 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: a McDonald's episode from more about that whole thing whatever 411 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,640 Speaker 1: the flavor. Sixty million Shamrocks shakes have been sold since 412 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: their inception, and it's an excellent study and artificial scarcity. 413 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: M Also, there is a Shamrock tracker for finding one 414 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 1: in the off season, track them down a different stay. 415 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: It's okay, yeah, yeah, because right because the off season 416 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: being like not around St. Patrick's Day, because because we 417 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: in America have a very specific concept of what St. 418 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: Patrick's Day is about. And it's and it's green, and 419 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: there's Shamrocks involved. It's the Shamrock Shake. There's a whole 420 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 1: story about how New York actually didn't have Shamrock shakes 421 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: until and then when they got them, I think it's 422 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: but recently ish um, And when they got them, Jimmy 423 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: Fallon went to McDonald's and bought like a hundred of 424 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: them for his for the audience. Yes, and people were 425 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: mad because they sold out of the Shamrocks shape because 426 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 1: of Jimmy Fallon. It was a kerfuffle. It was a kerfuffle. 427 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: And to end this whole shame Rock Shake side that 428 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: we've gone, um weird mascot of the episode, we present 429 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 1: McDonald land's uncle, Oh Grimacy. Oh no, the green Irish 430 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: uncle of Grimace really of the ninet seventies and eighties. 431 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: He had merch and an Irish accent. Oh I'm sure 432 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: that that was strictly authentic accent. Yes, yes, yes, I 433 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:20,880 Speaker 1: know what I'm googling after we finished this. Yes, it's 434 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: worth it is weird, so weird? Is it as horrifying 435 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 1: as the Grimaces, but like just slightly more racist? Yeah? Cool, 436 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: Well that's great. There's like a weird origin story too, 437 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: where he jinks the Shamrock take. I think it was 438 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: before they solidified Grammacy, Oh Gramacy. Grimace drinks the Shamrock 439 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: Shake and he turns he like slowly spot a lely 440 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 1: turns green and it's really creepy. Oh all right, but 441 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: I highly recommend looking it up. Yes, we'll we'll do. 442 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 1: Uh yeah, And I guess that wraps up our our 443 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,119 Speaker 1: episode on Mint. I think that there's a lot of 444 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: little pathways. I definitely want to do a whole other episode, 445 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 1: yeah on candy canes and so these other mint candies, 446 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 1: which hole, there's a lot there um. But yeah, in 447 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 1: the meanwhile, we've got a little bit more from you. 448 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: But first we've got one more quick break for a 449 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: word from our sponsor, and we're back. Thank you sponsor, Yes, 450 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 1: thank you, and we're back with listener now. I always 451 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 1: feel like Mints commercials have that, like there's a lot 452 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: of mouth noises, and I apologize for that every better. 453 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 1: But I had to get my point across so that 454 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: you'd understand the listener now very important, very important, Dan wrote, 455 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: we have a family tradition on birthdays where we always 456 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: get a big pretzel for the family gatherings. There's a 457 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 1: local shop that makes all sorts of pretzels, ranging from 458 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: pretzel burgers and hot dogs to your normal pretzel twist. 459 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: They also make specialized shapes. We usually order a pretzel 460 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 1: in the shape of whatever the theme is for our 461 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 1: kids birthdays. We've done Elmo, Pepper, Pig, Darth Vader, and 462 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: a whole bunch more This year, my son is having 463 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 1: a dinosaur pretzel and included a pick just to show 464 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: you how cool they are. And yes, it is cool. 465 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: It is so cool. Um where We're gonna follow up 466 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: with Dan and c if we can post this on 467 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: social because it is like yeah, like I thought that 468 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: Jurassic Park did a pretty good job of illustrating dinosaurs, 469 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: but I was wrong. This is the old This is 470 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 1: what dinosaurs looked like. Yes, they need to include this 471 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:43,239 Speaker 1: in textbooks. It's beautiful they do. It's glorious. Oh um 472 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: Arena wrote. The region I'm from and West Germany, close 473 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 1: to the Luxembourg and Belgian border, has its own pretzel 474 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: related custom I wanted to share with you. Each November eleventh, St. 475 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 1: Martin's Day is celebrated throughout Germany. Children will make colorful 476 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:59,479 Speaker 1: paper lanterns and walk in a procession across town, singing songs. 477 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: At the end of the procession, each kid will get 478 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 1: a little reward in the form of a big, soft 479 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,959 Speaker 1: sugar pretzel called a Martin Spreatzel. Growing up, I love 480 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 1: these pretzels so much. I would trade my cousins my 481 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: toys for a bite out of their pretzels. Unlike a 482 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: normal soft pretzel. The dough is enriched with butter milk 483 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 1: and or cork, baked until just golden brown without the 484 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 1: lie bath, and then glazed with a butter milk mix 485 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: and covered in sugar. The pretzels of my childhood were 486 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 1: easily as big as my head and the fluffiest thing 487 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: I've ever eaten. Now I live in the UK, and 488 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: every year around November, the craving for Martin Spreatzel returns, 489 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: with no way of getting a quick fix. Luckily for me, 490 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 1: my grandma has recently discovered an old recipe in her cookbooks, 491 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 1: so come November, I will give it a try. That 492 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 1: sounds so good. Oh yeah yeah, let us let us 493 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 1: know how it turns out. Send us send us pictures. Yes, yes, 494 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: she did send some from past years and they look amazing. 495 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: Yeah they look delicious and soft and fluffy and that 496 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,280 Speaker 1: one yea, and I want one of the sides of 497 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: my head. Now. I thought I was done with my 498 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 1: pretzel cravings, but they continue. They do forever forever. Anyway, 499 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: if you would like to email us like these two 500 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: wonderful listeners, dude, thank you for emailing you can. Our 501 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: email is Hello at savor Pod. Dot com. We're also 502 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: on social media. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, 503 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: and Twitter at Savor pod. We do hope to hear 504 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 1: from you. Savor is a production of iHeart Media and 505 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 1: Stuff Media. For more podcasts from iHeart Radio, visit the 506 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 507 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: your favorite shows. Thank you as always to our superproducers 508 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 1: Andrew Howard and Dylan Fagan. Thank you to you for listening, 509 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: and we hope that lots more good things are coming 510 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: your way.