Pudina is spearmint, the bright green, sweet-smelling mint of Indian chutneys, raitas and jaljeera. Its flavour comes mainly from carvone rather than the sharp menthol of corn mint, Mentha arvensis, which is grown for menthol oil. It spreads quickly by runners and grows easily in pots. Moroccan mint tea and many chewing gums also use spearmint.
- Botanical name
- Mentha spicata L.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Tamil
- Pudina
- Hindi
- Pudina
- Sanskrit
- Pūdinā
- Parts used
- Leaves
- Habit
- Spreading garden mint used in chutney
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Pudina
It is a spreading perennial herb with square stems and creeping underground runners.
The leaves are bright green, wrinkled, sharply toothed and nearly stalkless.
Pale lilac to white flowers form slender spikes at the stem tips.
Crushed leaves smell sweet and fresh rather than sharply cooling.
Corn mint carries flowers in clusters along the stem, not at the tips.
Traditional use of Pudina
Kitchen
Pudina chutney with coriander, chilli and lemon is served with snacks, biryani and kebabs.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
Mint goes into raita, jaljeera, lemonade and pudina rice.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
In Morocco spearmint is brewed with green tea and sugar.
Moroccan food practice
Modern notes on Pudina
Carvone, the main compound in spearmint oil, also gives caraway its flavour in a mirror-image form.
Small trials suggest spearmint tea may lower some male hormones in women, but more study is needed.
It is used to flavour toothpaste and chewing gum.
Pudina safety
Mint is a safe herb in food. Concentrated mint oils should not be applied to the faces of babies.
Ecology and sourcing
It probably arose in the Mediterranean region.
Bees and butterflies visit its flower spikes.
Its runners spread quickly, so it is best grown in pots.
Related plants
Also in Lamiaceae
Questions about Pudina
Is pudina spearmint?
Usually, yes.
How is Pudina different from corn mint?
Spearmint is sweeter and has flowers in tip spikes.
Can I grow Pudina in a pot?
Yes, easily.
Why does mint spread so fast?
It grows from creeping runners.
What gives spearmint the Pudina’s flavour?
Carvone.
Can mint be dried?
Yes. Dried mint keeps its flavour and is used in raita and buttermilk.
Sources
- Mentha spicata L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q160114 (Mentha spicata)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.