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Jamaican Colic Mint aka Peppermint
(Lippia Geminata)

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Jamaican Colic MintColic Mint - Trusted For Generations By Jamaicans

By Wellesley Gayle

If you grew up in Jamaica, chances are you’ve seen Colic Mint growing quietly somewhere nearby — along a fence, at the edge of a yard, or tucked away in a small kitchen garden.

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It’s one of those plants many of us take for granted, yet it holds a special place in Jamaican herbal tradition.

Known botanically as Lippia geminata, Jamaican Colic Mint is an aromatic herb with soft green leaves and a gentle minty scent. For generations, it has been picked fresh, brewed simply, and enjoyed as a comforting bush tea — especially in Jamaican households that value natural living and traditional knowledge.

What makes Colic Mint special isn’t just its fragrance or its taste. It’s the way this plant fits effortlessly into everyday Jamaican life.

A True Backyard Herb

It’s one of those plants many of us take for granted, yet it holds a special place in Jamaican herbal tradition.

Known botanically as Lippia geminata, Jamaican Colic Mint is an aromatic herb with soft green leaves and a gentle minty scent. For generations, it has been picked fresh, brewed simply, and enjoyed as a comforting bush tea — especially in Jamaican households that value natural living and traditional knowledge.

What makes Colic Mint special isn’t just its fragrance or its taste. It’s the way this plant fits effortlessly into everyday Jamaican life.

How Jamaicans Use Colic Mint Traditionally

Here in Jamaica, Colic Mint is most commonly prepared as a simple bush tea. There’s no elaborate process. The leaves are steeped in hot water and enjoyed on their own, morning or evening, whenever a warm, soothing cup of tea feels right.

It is one of the 'staple' teas I recall having most mornings as a child growing up. The others are peppermint, lime leaf and fever grass (No not cerasee, that was one off).

This simplicity is important though. Our herbal culture has always been about listening to the body and the moment, rather than following rigid rules. Colic Mint fits perfectly into that philosophy — gentle, aromatic, and easy to enjoy.

Today, many people prefer Colic Mint in tea bag form, which offers the same traditional experience with added convenience, especially for those living overseas who want a taste of Jamaican bush tea without the hassle of measuring or straining leaves (and we have it here on my e-store).

A Familiar Aroma With A Caribbean Flavour

jamaican_colic_mint_lippia_geminata_peppermint

While Colic Mint belongs to the wider mint family, its aroma is distinctly Caribbean. It’s not sharp or overpowering like some mints. Instead, it has a softer, warmer fragrance that feels grounding and familiar.

That’s one reason why Colic Mint continues to appeal to Jamaicans abroad. One cup can bring back memories of childhood, grandparents’ yards, and evenings spent winding down after a long day.

Why Colic Mint Still Matters Today

In today's world where herbal products are often over-processed, over-packaged, and over-explained, Colic Mint remains refreshingly simple.

It doesn’t need marketing buzzwords or complex blends to stand out. Its value lies in tradition, accessibility, and the quiet confidence of a plant that has earned its place in our homes over time.

For those exploring Jamaican herbs for the first time, Colic Mint is an excellent introduction. For those who already know it, it’s a comforting reminder that some of the most meaningful plants are the ones that grow closest to us.

A Living Part Of Our Heritage

And listen, Colic Mint isn’t just another herb - it’s part of Jamaica’s living heritage.

Passed down through observation and practice rather than textbooks, it represents the way knowledge flows naturally from one generation to the next. Whether growing in a backyard in Jamaica or enjoyed as a carefully prepared tea abroad, Lippia geminata continues to connect people to the island in a very real, very personal way.

Sometimes, the most powerful traditions are the quiet ones - and Jamaican Colic Mint is a perfect example.

I'm so happy that I was able to propagate a few plants of it here in my backyard in Montego Bay.

jamaican_colic_mint_lippia_geminata

🌿 Did You Know?
... that Colic Mint isn't a true mint?

Although it’s commonly called a mint because of its aroma, Colic Mint  (Lippia geminata) doesn’t belong to the same botanical group as peppermint or spearmint. Its gentle fragrance is one of the reasons it’s often mistaken for them.

If you enjoy colic mint, you might like some of our other Bush Teas and Medicinal herbs here.

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