Plants / Potion ingredients
Food and Drink Herbology Potions

Peppermint

"Euphoria, I take it? And what's that I smell? Mmmm . . . you've added just a sprig of peppermint, haven't you? Unorthodox, but what a stroke of inspiration, Harry ..."
-- Horace Slughorn (HBP22)

A plant sometimes added to potions or sweets.

  • In Slughorn's class, Harry adds peppermint to his "Elixer to Induce Euphoria," an idea found scribbled in the margins of the Half-Blood Prince's Potion Book (HBP22).
  • Hagrid carries peppermint humbugs in his pockets (PS5). These were also on the table during Harry's first Sorting Feast (PS10).
  • Peppermint is one flavor of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (PS6).

Potions Connection

The Elixer to Induce Euphoria, addition of peppermint suggested in the Half-Blood Prince Potions Book.

Commentary

Notes

  • Slughorn says the addition of peppermint to Harry's potion reminds him of his mother Lily:  "I really don't know where you get
    these brain waves, my boy . . . unless — ... it's just your mother's genes coming out in you!" Ironically, the peppermint idea came from the Half-Blood Prince, who was the younger Severus Snape -- Lily's friend and possible potions-partner. This might imply that sometimes Lily got credit for Snape's brilliant ideas when they were in school, or perhaps they worked out the ideas together.
  • Peppermint is a wide-ranging herb with a spicy taste, actually a hybrid of watermint and spearmint. Peppermint oil is used medicinally and as aromatherapy, to aid the stomach as well as enhance memory and alertness. And it's a tasty ingredient in Christmas candy, herbal tea and chewing gum. source: Wikipedia

Pensieve (Comments)

Tags: herbs plants sweet sweets

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