This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = mint(GDF v2.0, 3046 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Mint |
| Scientific name | Mentha spicata |
| Family / Genus | Lamiaceae / Mentha |
| Produce category | Herb |
| Produce subcategory | Fresh Culinary Herb |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4431 |
| PLU — organic | 94431 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_4917 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 25.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Native Spearmint | 35% | Most common commercial spearmint; bright green leaves, pointed shape, mild sweet flavor, high oil content (1.5-2.5%), excellent for fresh market and oil extraction |
| Scotch Spearmint | 25% | Darker green crinkled leaves, stronger more pungent flavor, lower oil content than Native, hardy and disease resistant, preferred for processing |
| Kentucky Colonel Spearmint | 15% | Vigorous growth, large smooth leaves, mild sweet flavor, excellent fresh market quality, popular for culinary use, good disease resistance |
| Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) | 12% | Natural hybrid of spearmint and watermint; purple-tinged stems, darker leaves, high menthol content (40-50%), strong cooling flavor, major commercial variety |
| Chocolate Mint | 4% | Dark green-brown leaves with chocolate aroma, peppermint undertones, specialty variety for fresh market, popular in gourmet applications |
| Mojito Mint (Mentha × villosa) | 3% | Large rounded fuzzy leaves, mild citrus-mint flavor, Cuban/Caribbean variety gaining US popularity, excellent fresh market quality for beverages |
| Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) | 2% | Rounded fuzzy leaves, fruity apple-like scent, milder flavor than spearmint, ornamental and culinary use, specialty fresh market |
| Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii) | 1% | Tiny leaves, ground cover type, intense peppermint fragrance, specialty/novelty market, limited commercial production |
| Ginger Mint | 1% | Variegated yellow-green leaves, mild ginger undertones, ornamental and culinary, specialty fresh market |
| Bowles Mint (Mentha × villosa var. alopecuroides) | 2% | Large rounded leaves, apple-mint type, excellent flavor for culinary use, popular in UK, growing US specialty market presence |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: null°F.
- Freezing point: 30.5°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 5 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.5 μL C2H4/kg·h typical (0.1–1) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | null ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Mint produces negligible ethylene and shows low sensitivity. Compatible with most produce in mixed loads from ethylene perspective.
Mixed-load compatibility
leafy_herbs_high_humidity
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing steadily at 4-6% annually driven by culinary diversity, mixology trends, and health-conscious consumers. Organic mint demand growing at 8-12% annually. Increasing demand from restaurant sector and craft beverage industry.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.65 |
| Income elasticity | 0.85 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.45 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Spearmint | 65% |
| Peppermint | 25% |
| Chocolate Mint | 4% |
| Apple Mint | 3% |
| Other Specialty Mints | 3% |
Pack sizes
- 0.75 oz clamshell
- 1 oz clamshell
- 2 oz pillow pack
- 1 lb bulk case
- 2 lb bulk case
- 4 oz foodservice pack
- 30-count bunch case
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.