Coolness is a neural illusion. Gently bruised mint ruptures enough oil-bearing glandular trichomes to release menthol, while avoiding the bitter polyphenols that heavy crushing can draw from leaf tissue. Temperature stays put. The first signal arrives at the tongue and nose, not from a colder liquid.Carbonation is the accomplice. Menthol activates TRPM8, a cold-sensitive ion channel on sensory neu...More