Herb
Mentha pulegium
A tier
Mentha pulegium is European pennyroyal—a low mint with intense, pungent menthol-camphor aroma far stronger than spearmint. Culinary use is traditional and sparing in some European sausages and historically in teas; concentrated oils are hazardous and not kitchen toys. Use tiny amounts of fresh leaf only if a traditional recipe demands it; many modern cooks skip pennyroyal for safer mints. Never ingest essential oil. Species ID separates it from milder Mentha cooking mints.
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History
European folk cookery and medicine used Mentha pulegium widely.
English herbals detailed pennyroyal’s strong mint character.
Awareness of toxicity risks reduced casual culinary use.
Food safety guidance treated pennyroyal oil as unsafe for ingestion.