KITCHEN GARDEN Is Vietnamese mint really a mint? Scientific Name: Persicaria odorata Common Name:Vietnamese mint Family: Polygonaceae True mints botanically speaking have wide spreading underground rhizomes with erect, square and branching stems.The leaves are opposite each other on those square stems, with clusters of small tubular flowers. Ture mints are also in the Lamiaceae family. So what do we make of Vietnamese mint?Perhaps you saw it in the herb section of the garden centre and mistook it to be just like any other mint. Not exactly a real mint and it's also in the same family as rhubarb and buckwheat; the Polygonaceae family. Traditionally, Vietnamese mint is used a lot in Asian cuisine. If you've ever had a laksa, you've probably eaten some Vietnamese mint.   What does it look like? It looks similar but different to traditional mint, plus it's a creeping herbaceous perennial. The leaves are very narrow and angular looking often with a chestnut-coloured rounded marking across the dark green leaf. The flowers are quite different to min. Flowers are flat spikes of pale lavender if you're in a warm enough climate for it to flower.   Where and How to grow it. It can grow very well outside in summer in non-tropical parts of Australia. Vietnamese mint prefers part-sun and well-drained soil. For those areas with cool to cold winter, bring your Vietnamese mint indoors or under shelter as you would an indoor plant. It grows very well in pots but is frost tender. Let’s find out how to use it in cooking by listening to the podcast. I'm speaking with Corinne Mossati founder of the gourmantic garden website and blog.Also sometimes called Vietnamese coriander and as Corinne mentioned you can make a dipping sauce or even try making pesto with it.If you have any questions why not email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.