I don't think you can go wrong with either one, it's basically a personal choice according to what you are going to use it for or which plant you like the looks of best. I always grow a large pot with a variety of mints. I just never plant the stuff in the garden because it has a tendency to take over the place!

You may well have had spearmint in your garden because it is the most common mint. Peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint.

-Common spearmint
-Peppermint
-Pineapple mint (for it's variegated foliage and fruity fragrance
-Chocolate mint (because it's all about chocolate)
-Orange mint
-Apple mint

-Grainlady

I personally do not like peppermint. I grow spearmint for cooking. Having said that, if I liked mint tea, I would grow peppermint. Peppermint is the mint used in mint ice cream and mint patties.

There is a difference in taste....just like there is a difference in lemon basil,cinnamon basil and basil officionalis

Thanks for the information. I used a lot on cut fresh fruit. I did not realize that Peppermint is a hybrid of spearmint. Would that mean the spearmint would be a hardier plant?
I also did do tea, leaves in ice tea, and put a lot in my car to dry just because I loved the smell.
Lindac how would you describe the difference in taste? Is one stronger mint flavor, scent?

Difference in taste? One tasted "green" and the other tastes like red ane white stripes...
Gee...how to describe taste....

I guess I mean is one stronger mint flavor?
Does one plant have a stronger scent?
I don't believe I have ever eaten anything mint that I didn't like.

I think peppermint is stronger, and I very much prefer spearmint, but the difference in flavor is not just in strength. I think spearmint has a more complex flavor.

I went to a Greek restaurant near our house and had some stuffed cabbage leaves (stuffed with beef and rice) with an avgolemono sauce, and the stuffing had a bit of mint in it, which I really liked. The restaurant owner thought it had dill in it instead of mint, but when she asked the chef, he told her that he had put mint in it. Then the owner said, "Well, what do I know?" I went back to that restaurant yesterday for brunch and had moussaka, which was excellent. They buy their vegetables from farmers' markets, and the moussaka was very light and not greasy.

Lars

Try a piece of peppermint gum & then a piece of spearmint gum. Should give you a pretty good idea of the taste differences? Or, you could do like me & pinch off a leaf of each in the nursery center & eat them, then decide. :)

Both spearmint & peppermint are thugs in my garden. I keep them well contained in pots located 2-3 feet away from any open ground. (I've had them sneak out through the drainage holes!) They'll look dead for sure in April but by now will be growing gangbusters.

I like a bit of mint in pesto along with the basil. Basil 'Genovese' is my favorite cooking basil.

/tricia

Go to a nursery with a large selection of herbs and look at one of each. Then rub one of apearmint leaves between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, and one of the peppermint leaves between the fingers of your other hand. You'll probably recognize which one you had by the scent, and it will also give you an idea about the difference in flavor. It is subtle, and hard to describe, but there. I have both, and prefer the spearmint for most things other than tea. Peppermint, to me, has a thinner, sharper flavor. It also (at least in my garden) tends to get leggier and isn't as attractive as the Spearmint.

Spearmint tastes a bit smoother. Peppermint is slightly peppery in addition to the minty taste.
I like spearmint in my tea. I usually add it after the tea is mostly brewed because I like it better with a less cooked taste.

I like to put a couple of leaves of spearmint in a glass of cool water too.

Peppermint is the one that's supposed to 'wake up' your brain. You're supposed to have a piece of peppermint before taking an exam to do your best.

Both of them are very refreshing.

Beth

Thanks for the information. We no longer have the large herb place in our area so I will have to check the nurseries. I did put it in water too.

I grow spearmint in my herb bed. To keep it contained, I cut the bottom out of a large nursery pot and sunk it into the ground. Planted the spearmin in that. Two years so far and it hasn't escaped yet!

I love to freeze a few leaves in ice cubes along with raspberries or strawberry slices for fancy ice cubes for special occasions.

Personally, I think spearmint is more versatile for use in cooking/baking. But that is just my opinion, based on what I like to make.

I also use the leaves for mojitos in summer. YUM!

Linda