Growers at working for Summerdown Mint, recommend ‘Black Mitcham' mint, which they use in their award-winning chocolates, peppermint oil and tea. "Mentha x piperita, the original English mint, with its characteristic nice rounded flavour, is the most palatable."

Cheryl Walker, council member of The Herb Society, has two favourites. "The unusual Tashkent mint is a beautiful, fresh and vibrantly green-leaved mint with wonderful curly edges, great in recipes. Black peppermint is simply the best for drinking as tea."

Jekka McVicar of Jekka's Herb Farm recommends Mentha longifolia subsp. Schimperi (Eastern mint) "because it makes the best cup of peppermint tea and looks graceful in the garden. This plant originates from Morocco, so plant it in a hot, dry position."