Each pound of mint contains roughly 160 five-inch mint sprigs.  It’s impossible to guarantee a specific number of leaves, sprigs, or even a very tight range, but each pound will likely contain something like 6.72 ounces of leaves, well over 382 in number.  Read below for a more detailed explanation.

Because, like most herbs, fresh mint tends to be sold as semi-standardized bunches and sprigs rather than individual leaves, the number of leaves in a pound can be difficult to estimate beyond a broad range.  Indeed, the foodservice industry usually does not think of useable mint per pound in terms of the actual number of leaves, but rather by weight.

Amount of Mint Leaves per Pound (by Weight & Volume)

Our mint has been estimated to contain about 160 five-inch sprigs per pound…but it’s very difficult to specify a number of leaves. 

Fortunately, there’s actually a book that professional chefs use to estimate how much ingredients will yield once they’ve been broken down from their shipped state (for example, when you cut up and remove the rind from a melon, how much edible melon do you actually have left?).  Called “The Book of Yields”, in the case of mint it says to generally assume that 42% (by weight) of the fresh mint ordered will be the actual leaves.  That equates to about 6.72 ounces of mint leaves per pound (roughly 62 tablespoons chopped).

Number of “Garnish Quality” Mint Leaves Per Pound

The “Book of Yields” also provides a numerical estimate for chefs looking for the very best leaves for garnishing purposes.  In the case of mint, a VERY rough estimate is that you will receive around 382 “garnish leaves” per pound…which are defined as largest, most attractive leaves suitable for decorating fine-dining plates. 

The total number of leaves per pound will be noticeably higher, and in general the bulk fresh herbs we sell are better quality than what you’re used to seeing in grocery stores.  Garnish leaves are simply the very best of the best.

- Question Submitted by Kim