This article reveals that the mint family (Lamiaceae) contains over 7,000 species, including familiar herbs like lavender, rosemary, basil, lemon balm, and tulsi. It encourages readers to explore these lesser-known relatives for their cooling, aromatic qualities—perfect for crafting refreshing mocktails and alcohol-free summer drinks.
When most people think of the mint family, they think of peppermint or spearmint. As children we may have discovered wild mint growing, or enjoyed a familiar sprig tucked into a glass of iced tea on a hot summer afternoon. But the mint family has a long list of relatives that are worth knowing in the world of mocktails and refreshing alcohol-free beverages.
July is an ideal month to move beyond peppermint and spearmint and explore some of the other wonderful members of the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Many have cooling properties that make them perfect for a hot summer day. Plus members of this family have signature aromatic and refreshing qualities that work beautifully in alcohol-free drinks.
As I started gardening and exploring the history of herbs and alcohol-free drinks, I discovered that mint has a much larger family than most of us realize. The Lamiaceae (Mint Family) is enormous, containing over 7,000 species worldwide! Many of the herbs we use for cooking, tea, herbal medicine, fragrance, and pollinator gardens belong to this family. For example, lavender is part of the mint family. Rosemary belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Catnip, basil, lemon balm, bee balm, tulsi, and pineapple sage all belong to the same botanical clan as peppermint.
Once I learned this, I started seeing the herb garden differently. What appeared to be a collection of unrelated plants suddenly felt more like a family reunion with each herb carrying its own personality, history, and story, yet connected through the same fragrant lineage.
What I love most about the mint family is that every plant seems to carry a story. Some grew in monastery gardens. Some were treasured in sacred traditions. Some flavored teas, tonics, and household remedies long before modern mocktails existed.
Yet despite their different histories, these herbs share something in common: they invite us to slow down and pay attention—to notice the fragrance of a crushed leaf, the taste of a simple tea, or the quiet pleasure of growing something with our own hands.
I hope you will try one of these herbs for yourself. Brew a cup of bee balm tea. Add basil to a summer spritz. Experiment with lavender, lemon balm, or rosemary. To explore further, I have included a list below highlighting thirty Lamiaceae herbs.
I share on these herbs individually - they all have their unique stories to tell. Please see the links to those articles below.
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I have posted a guide for 30 Lamiaceae (Herb) Family Plants below. Please email me at layne@laynewhitley.com to request a copy through email that you can download.
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Check out these Lamiaceae (Mint) Family Blogs:
- How to Use Lavender: 5 Tips for Mocktails & Elixirs
- Tulsi: The Sacred Plant
- Lemon Balm: The Herb That Gladdens the Heart
- Bee Balm Tea: How to Brew America's Forgotten Colonial Herbal Tea (Oswego Tea Recipe)
- Basil Beyond the Kitchen: The Royal Herb's History & Strawberry Basil Spritz Recipe
- Rosemary: For Mocktails & Memory
- Pineapple Sage: How to Use This Fragrant Herb in Mocktails (Summer Cooler Recipe)
