Epazote

2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Plants

iEpazote
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Tracheobionta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Chenopodiaceae Genus: Chenopodium Species: C. ambrosioides
Binomial name
Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

Epazote, Wormseed, Jesuit's Tea, Mexican Tea, or Herba Sancti Mariæ (Chenopodium ambrosioides) is a herb native to Central America, South America, and southern Mexico. Its name derives from the Nahuatl word for "skunk herb" (epatli = skunk + zotli = herb). It is an annual or short-lived perennial plant, growing to 1.2 m tall, irregularly branched, with oblong-lanceolate leaves up to 12 cm long. The flowers are small and green, produced in a branched panicle at the apex of the stem.

As well as in its native area, it is grown in warm temperate to subtropical areas of Europe and the United States ( Missouri, New England, Eastern United States), sometimes becoming an invasive weed.

Culinary uses

Epazote is used as a leaf vegetable and herb for its pungent flavor. Raw, it has a resinous, medicinal pungency, a bit like the liquorice taste of anise, fennel, or even tarragon, but stronger. Epazote's fragrance is strong, but difficult to describe. People would often compare it with (in no particular order) citrus, petroleum, savory, mint or putty.

Although it is traditionally used with black beans for flavor and its antiflatulent properties, it is used in traditional Mexican cooking for an extra kick. Great with quesadillas, soups, mole de olla, tamales de queso y rajas, chilaquiles, eggs and potatoes and enchiladas. It is really an all round leafy herb, once you acquire the taste for it.

Medicinal uses

Epazote is used as a leaf vegetable and herb for its pungent flavor and its claimed ability to prevent flatulence caused by eating beans but also in the treatment of amenorrhea , dysmenorrhea, malaria, chorea, hysteria, expectorant, catarrh, and asthma.

Oil of Chenopdium is derived from this plant. It is anthelmintic, that is it kills intestinal worms, and was once listed for this use in the US Pharmacopoeia. It is also cited as an antispasmodic and abortifacient - the first birth control pills were derived from research on epazote.

Epazote essential oil contains ascaridole (up to 70%), limonene, p-cymene, and smaller amounts of numerous other monoterpenes and monoterpene derivatives ( α-pinene, myrcene, terpinene, thymol, camphor and trans-isocarveol). Ascaridol (1,4-peroxido-p-menth-2-ene) is rather an uncommon constituent of spices; another plant owing much of its character to this monoterpene peroxide is boldo. Ascaridole is toxic and has a pungent, not very pleasant flavor; in pure form, it is an explosive sensitive to shock. Allegedly, ascaridole content is lower in epazote from México than in epazote grown in Europe or Asia.