Origin

Mentha villosa, also known as Mojito Mint or Cuban Mint, is a fragrant herb native to Cuba that is traditionally used to create authentic mojito cocktails - this is what gives it its name.

For a long time it wasn't possible to obtain this type of mint outside of Cuba, but it was finally brought to North America in 2006 by Catherine Nasmith, a Canadian mojito enthusiast. For the most part, though, it's still not widely commercially available, and so spearmint is often substituted.

Care

Mojito Mint does not like hot, full sun, as it can easily burn. Try to give it lots of bright, indirect sunlight instead. If growing this plant outdoors, dappled sunlight is ideal.

They also like plenty of water - try to keep the soil moist at all times, but not overly wet. Too much water can cause your mint to drown. You'll know it's time to water again when the topmost layer of the soil is dry.

Note that these plants are invasive and will quickly spread if not controlled. If you keep yours outdoors, you may need to keep an eye on it to ensure that any draping parts of the plant don't start to creep along the ground.

Other

This variety of mint is less pungent and more sweet than other mints, making it a popular choice for flavoring various meat dishes as well as for its use in traditional mojitos. It's also sometimes used in fruit salads and as part of potpourri.