Mint is widely used in commercially manufactured products, cooking and medicine for its aromatic and flavoursome qualities. Peppermint, one of the most popular species of the mint plant, can be found in toothpaste, chewing gum, mouthwash, soaps, sweets, balms or creams and cough medicine.
There are many other types of mint including, applemint, water mint, horsemint, pineapple mint, orange mint, pennyroyal and spearmint. Pennyroyal is toxic if taken internally, causing severe liver damage, but it can be rubbed onto the skin to repel insects and prevent them from biting.
Apart from peppermint, spearmint is probably the most widely used species of mint. It is not as strong as peppermint in flavour and is therefore used in cooking and added to sauces, dressings, cakes and can be added as a garnish to dishes.