Sprigy Tips
Should you tear mint leaves before making tea?
Try whole leaves in one cup and torn leaves in another. Which makes the brew you prefer?
Set up two cups
Pick about a dozen similar-sized leaves from one bunch of fresh mint. Rinse them, then divide them evenly between two heatproof cups. Using one bunch lets you compare the preparation without accidentally comparing two different mints.
Whole leaves in one, torn leaves in the other
Leave the first six leaves whole. Tear each of the other six into two or three pieces just before brewing. Pour half a cup of hot water into each cup and steep both for five minutes. Strain the leaves and let the tea cool enough to sip.
Taste them side by side
Smell each cup first, then take a small sip of each without sweetener. Which has the stronger aroma? Which has the finish you prefer? If they taste much the same to you, keeping the leaves whole saves a step. If you prefer the torn batch, tear the leaves just before your next brew.
Curious about the mint itself? Read Peppermint or spearmint? for a comparison of the two herbs.