The Buzau Plant Genetic Resources Bank (BRGV) has a unique collection of mint varieties, ranging from those with vanilla, chocolate or clove aromas to a potted plant whose leaves are no more than one centimetre long but which has a powerful fragrance despite its tiny size.

The BRGV has a portfolio of more than 20,000 plant varieties, mainly vegetables and flower species, as well as aromatic and medicinal plants. Found predominantly in the wild, mint has attracted the attention of researchers, who have succeeded in acclimatising and cultivating new varieties distinguished both by their appearance and their aroma. One species, which can be used in gastronomy or confectionery and has a chocolate aroma, is currently undergoing the approval process.

'Mint has attracted the attention of our researchers and holds a place of honour here. We have it under study and have many varieties of mint, including one variety currently undergoing approval, a first for the Gene Bank. We must not forget that mint is a special plant, an exceptional aromatic plant and a medicinal plant unanimously valued by the international scientific community. There are different varieties with various aromas. We believe that the mint variety we are seeking to approve will be particularly appreciated by those who use it for tea, but even more so by those who might consider using it in chocolate-making, because its aroma is extraordinarily good. It has a sweet flavour, not as mentholated as the mint we are familiar with, but with an extraordinary taste,' BRGV Buzau director Costel Vinatoru told AGERPRES.

Chocolate-scented mint is not the only variety in the bank's collection to attract attention for its exceptional qualities. The collection includes varieties with many different aromas, from those found in toothpaste to the flavours of lemon sweets and winter teas, with vanilla and clove notes.

'We have varieties with many other aromas that can be used in different areas, including cosmetics, personal-care products, toothpaste and many others. We have more than 10 stabilised mint varieties, some of which are being cultivated and others kept in conservation. We also have a miniature mint, Corsican mint, which we brought to Romania many years ago and which can also be grown in pots. It has very small leaves, less than one centimetre long, just a few millimetres, and is highly fragrant, with an extraordinarily delicate aroma. A small sprig added to tea or even coffee completely changes the taste and enhances the aroma. We know mint as a common plant, but we have managed to break through these barriers and now have cultivated plots with distinctive aromas as well as different leaf colours. We have reddish mint, curly mint, crinkled mint and mint with rounded leaflets. We also have mint that smells of cloves, mint with a lemon scent and mint with a vanilla scent. It has extraordinary potential, although at first glance we are talking about the familiar mint with its classic aroma,' Costel Vinatoru said.

Given its qualities, which are valued in various industries, mint could become a niche crop for Romania, BRGV specialists believe. The plants are resistant to diseases and pests and spread rapidly in cultivation if certain essential cultivation techniques and practices are followed to obtain healthy yields.

'Mint is very popular with beekeepers and bees; it is a plant that excels in producing pollen and nectar and, naturally, bees prefer it. To maintain varietal purity, you have to make sure that you grow only one mint variety and that there are no other varieties nearby, or even wild mint. We need to know how to cultivate it. It is a plant that does not require any special growing conditions; all that is needed is to prepare the soil properly and irrigate it on time,' the institution's researcher stressed.

The Buzau Plant Genetic Resources Bank is the only institution of its kind in Romania whose strategy involves the genotypic and phenotypic characterisation, as well as the ex situ and in situ conservation, of plant genetic resources over the short, medium and long term, in accordance with international legislation. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Florin Zafiu; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)