Aardbeienmunt

Strawberry mint is a plant to smell before you taste. Gently rub its small leaves and the fragrance recalls strawberries, layered over a recognisable mint freshness. Summer brings pale purple flowers, while the leafy shoots provide the main kitchen harvest.

Chop a little young leaf over strawberries and yoghurt, add it to a fruit salad or let a few sprigs infuse in cool water. The fruity scent is a characteristic of the leaves; the plant does not produce strawberry fruit. Pick fresh tips regularly to enjoy the youngest foliage.

Plant outdoors in spring or autumn in sun or partial shade, in fertile soil that stays moist without holding stagnant water. Like other mints, it can spread through runners, so a roomy container is useful when you want to control its space. Water pots carefully in dry weather. After flowering, cut back to about 5 cm to encourage fresh shoots. The perennial plant grows again after winter, although its top growth may look tired or die back during the cold season.