From The Food Encyclopedia by Jacques Rolland and Carol Sherman
A more pungent offspring of the spearmint, in use since biblical times. The main component of the mint's peculiarly refreshing active oil is menthol, widely used in many items on the market, including cigarettes, candy, liqueurs, toothpaste, mouthwash, cough drops, rubbing creams and room deodorizers. Menthol is a remarkable substance. At low concentrations, it raises the threshold temperature at which the cold receptors in our skin begin to discharge: it makes a warm mouth feel cool and cool drinks feel colder. In larger doses, it can be used as an anesthetic.
