Clinopodium nepeta (synonym: Calamintha nepeta), known as lesser calamint, is a perennial herb of the mint family.
Lesser calamint is a perennial shrub, forming a compact mound of shiny, green oregano-like leaves. The flowers are lavender pink. The plant reaches a height of 18inches.[1] The lesser calamint smells like a cross between mint and oregano. It attracts honeybees and butterflies.[2] Lesser calamint usually grows in the summer, and well into the fall. It can become dormant in the winter months, then reblossom in spring. In fall, the flowers fall to the ground and will self-seed. Seedlings will flower in late August. Lesser calamint often grows wild, but can also be kept in pots. The average life expectancy of a plant is 3–4 years. It is susceptible to powdery mildew.
The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Melissa nepeta. It was subsequently placed in Calamintha, Thymus, Satureja and Clinopodium, among other genera. The last of these is currently accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
Three subspecies are recognized:
Lesser calamint is commonly used as an herb in the Italian and Corsican cuisine, where it is called nepita, mentuccia, nipitella or nepitella. In Rome, it is used in the preparation of the Carciofi alla Romana. In southern Italy, it is used in the making of a goat cheese called cassiedu, giving the cheese a minty taste.[3]
Some sources state that Nepeta nepetella can be used in cooking like the lesser calamint.[4]
It's used to aromatize boiled chestnuts along with other herbs in Galicia, Northwest Spain.