Peppermint leaf
Peppermint leaf suppliers and sourcing guide
Peppermint leaf is the dried leaf of Mentha x piperita, a sterile hybrid of water mint and spearmint grown from runners in the US Pacific Northwest, Europe, Egypt and India. Harvested herb is dried, the leaf is separated from stems, and it is sold cut and sifted for tea, as powder, or as dry and liquid extracts. Menthol and menthone in the leaf's essential oil are the usual quality markers; the distilled oil is a separate ingredient.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Mentha x piperita · Mentha piperita · peppermint herb · peppermint leaf powder
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of peppermint leaf
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut and sifted leaf
Dried leaf cut to tea grade, the main form for herbal teas and infusions.
Leaf powder
Dried leaf milled for capsules and blends; volatile oil drops faster once milled.
Dry or liquid extract
Water or water-alcohol extract of the leaf, sold by drug-to-extract ratio.
Organic
Leaf from certified organic farms, with the organic certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- Macroscopic and microscopic examination and HPTLC fingerprint against Mentha x piperita leaf, which also separates it from spearmint and field mint.
- Volatile oil content
- Essential oil by steam distillation (mL per 100 g), with menthol and menthone by GC where the spec requires.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella (often Staphylococcus aureus too).
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
- Physical tests
- Loss on drying, mesh or particle size, bulk density, color and odor against the spec. Include stem content and foreign matter.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep leaf sealed in lined bags or drums, cool, dry and out of light. The volatile oil evaporates and oxidizes over time, faster in powder and at higher temperature, so limit headspace and time open. Suppliers set shelf life or retest dates, usually by rechecking volatile oil content.
Lots and expiry dates
Volatile oil content and menthol ratio vary with origin, harvest timing and drying. Record supplier lot, origin and oil content, and rotate stock so older lots are used first.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 182.10 lists peppermint (Mentha piperita) among spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings generally recognized as safe for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists peppermint leaves (Mentha piperita) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 182.10.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Peppermint natural health product monograph lists Mentha x piperita with the dried leaf as the source part.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Peppermint leaf suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking peppermint leaf suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell peppermint leaf? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of peppermint leaf can brands buy?
Common forms include cut and sifted leaf, leaf powder, dry or liquid extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for peppermint leaf include?
Expect identity, volatile oil content, heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should peppermint leaf be stored?
Keep leaf sealed in lined bags or drums, cool, dry and out of light. The volatile oil evaporates and oxidizes over time, faster in powder and at higher temperature, so limit headspace and time open. Suppliers set shelf life or retest dates, usually by rechecking volatile oil content.
What is the regulatory status of peppermint leaf?
21 CFR 182.10 lists peppermint (Mentha piperita) among spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings generally recognized as safe for their intended use. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists peppermint leaves (Mentha piperita) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 182.10. Health Canada's Peppermint natural health product monograph lists Mentha x piperita with the dried leaf as the source part.
More botanicals and mushrooms
- AshwagandhaWithania somnifera · Indian ginseng
- ElderberrySambucus nigra · black elderberry
- Green Tea ExtractCamellia sinensis leaf extract · Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze
- Lion's ManeHericium erinaceus · lion's mane mushroom
- MacaLepidium meyenii · Lepidium peruvianum
- TurmericCurcuma longa · curcumin
- Ginger rootZingiber officinale · ginger rhizome
- GarlicAllium sativum · garlic powder
- EchinaceaEchinacea purpurea · Echinacea angustifolia
- Milk thistleSilybum marianum · silymarin
- Saw palmettoSerenoa repens · Sabal serrulata
- Ginkgo bilobaGinkgo biloba · ginkgo leaf extract
Sell ingredients to brands?
Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.