Sharon Adams, age 8, of E1 Paso, Texas, for her question:

WHERE DO WE GET PEPPERMINT?

Peppermint is a perennial herb of the mint family. It is grown widely for the fragrant oil found in glands of the leaves. The oil is used as an important flavoring.

Oregon and Washington are the leading peppermint oil producers in the United States. It also grows well in Idaho, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Medicines containing peppermint are used to relieve colic and toothache. Menthol, which is made from the peppermint oil, is a cold remedy.

Peppermint is one of the most popular of all flavorings used in candy making. Probably about 60 times as much peppermint is used as wintergreen, and four times as much peppermint as spearmint.

The plant grows to be one to three feet high and bears smooth, sharp pointed oval leaves and small bluish white flowers. Like all mints, it has a square stem.