Japanese Mint Pot Seedling, 2 Plants, "Sayakaze OF-kei", May 24

This plant is a close relative of the Japanese mint variety Sayakaze, particularly excellent in aroma, with heat, cold, and disease resistance. It is a vigorous and easy-to-grow variety, and the best and rarest variety in my (OF) mint collection.

[What is Japanese Mint?]
While it's often mistaken for a specific variety name, Japanese mint (Nihon Hakka) is actually a general term for a group of *Mentha canadensis* varieties with high menthol content. This group includes native species, original strains, Chinese strains, improved Japanese strains, hybrids with Western mints, and their mutations and reversions. Classification is difficult, and identifying pure varieties is nearly impossible. Commercially sold seedlings can have confusing names, unknown varieties borrowing brand names from products like Lotte gum, and incorrect variety descriptions (spread on flea markets), so they cannot be taken at face value. Seedlings are sometimes sold under the same variety name as their parent plants.
Furthermore, the aroma varies greatly depending on the variety and strain; in fact, the differences in aroma are most clearly evident between varieties.

[The Hokuto for Oil, The Sayakaze for Aroma]
Sayakaze and Hokuto, perfected through repeated improvements by the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, are half-brothers and related on their mother's side (their maternal grandparents are wild spearmint and a Chinese strain. The description that Hokuto's parent is peppermint is an error by the seller). They look very similar, but the quality of their aroma is quite different.
Hokuto, the younger brother, was improved with the goals of oil yield and high productivity. It has a moderate menthol content and is the variety that yields the most essential oil. Therefore, it has an intense refreshing sensation, but its aroma is pungent and sharp, with a mix of grassy and oily notes, not just menthol. It's good for deodorizing but likely unsuitable for herbal tea.
Sayakaze, the older brother, was improved with the goals of aroma and high menthol content. It is the variety that yields the most menthol. Therefore, you can clearly feel the scent of menthol itself, with a good balance of moderate coolness and gentle sweetness, resulting in a refined flavor without any off-notes. This is likely due to the exquisite balance of various trace components other than menthol. Raw mint tea is the best way to enjoy this aroma. Note that there are slight differences in characteristics compared to Sayakaze from the NARO Genebank.
Hokuto is widely available under the product name Nihon Hakka, but Sayakaze is virtually non-existent in circulation.

[Product Condition]
These are two young seedlings grown from cuttings from the tip of the main stem, similar to the ones in the photo. They will be shipped via Nekoposu with the original warship-shaped pot designed by OF.