Spearmint (mentha spicata) has many culinary uses – in mint jellies, sauces and herb butters, for seasoning fruits and vegetables (roasted potatoes, candied carrots), in grain dishes like tabbuleh or couscous, and in stuffings for meat and poultry. Its bright, clean flavour is an excellent complement to gamey or rich meats such as lamb. Mint aids digestion and is said to help with concentration and to give a mental boost – which is, in part, the reason for the popularity of refreshing mint tea.