If you live in the South, chances are that when someone says mint – you think iced tea. Its ubiquitous down here, paired with tea so sweet that when you drink it, your teeth hurt from the sugar. We’re not talking tea here this week, but pairing fresh mint with fruit salad filled with berries, cherries, peaches or any fruit that sounds good to you!

Fresh mint adds a refreshing aroma, flavor, and pop of health benefits to just about anything. It contains beta-carotene, iron, manganese and Vitamin C. In fact, mint oil has been known to relieve GI issues as well as decrease nausea.

And did you know it is a cousin of basil? Both are great collaborators in savory foods, adding the pepperiness of basil and cooling menthol from fresh mint. Enjoy this summer salad on August-hot Atlanta days!

Fresh Mint Fruit Salad

2 Lbs (32 OZ) Fresh Berries or Cherries, washed and sliced

2 Oranges or Peaches, peeled and chopped

3 TB Orange or Strawberry Jam

2 TB Lemon Juice

Zest of 1 Lemon

2 TB Orange Juice

1 TB Chopped Fresh Mint

Toss the berries or cherries, oranges or peaches together in a large bowl. To create the dressing, whisk together the jam, juices, zest and fresh mint in another bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the fruit and serve.