Envoy at 05:34, 2 July 2007

2007-07-02T05:34:57Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Epazote
| image = 400px-Epazote.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Tracheobionta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Caryophyllales]]
| familia = [[Chenopodiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Chenopodium]]''
| species = '''''C. ambrosioides'''''
| binomial = ''Chenopodium ambrosioides''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

'''Epazote''', '''Wormseed''', '''Jesuit's Tea''', '''Mexican Tea''', or '''Herba Sancti Mariæ''' (''Chenopodium ambrosioides'') is an [[herb]] native to [[Central America]], [[South America]], and southern [[Mexico]]. It is an [[annual plant|annual]] or short-lived [[perennial plant]], growing to 1.2 m tall, irregularly branched, with oblong-lanceolate [[leaf|leaves]] up to 12 cm long. The [[flower]]s are small and green, produced in a branched [[panicle]] at the apex of the stem.

As well as in its native areas, it is grown in warm temperate to subtropical areas of [[Europe]] and the [[United States]] ([[Missouri]], [[New England]], [[Eastern United States]])<ref>A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve, FRHS. pg. 854</ref>, sometimes becoming an [[invasive species|invasive]] [[weed]].

The name ''epazote'' comes from [[Nahuatl]] ''epazōtl'' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: {{IPA|[eˈpasoːtɬ]}}) via [[Spanish language|Spanish]].

== Culinary uses ==
Epazote is used as a [[leaf vegetable]] and herb for its pungent flavor. Raw, it has a resinous, medicinal pungency, similar to the [[liquorice]] taste of [[anise]], [[fennel]], or even [[tarragon]], but stronger. Epazote's fragrance is strong, but difficult to describe. It has been compared to citrus, petroleum, savory, mint, and putty.

Although it is traditionally used with [[Common bean#Black beans|black beans]] for flavor and its antiflatulent properties, it is also sometimes used to flavor other traditional Mexican dishes as well: it can be used to season [[quesadillas]], soups, [[mole (sauce)|mole]] de olla, [[tamales]] with cheese and chile, [[chilaquiles]], eggs and potatoes, and [[enchiladas]].

== 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 [[bean]]s but also in the treatment of [[amenorrhea]]<ref>The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D. pgs. 51-53</ref>, [[dysmenorrhea]], [[malaria]], [[Chorea (disease)|chorea]], [[hysteria]], [[catarrh]], and [[asthma]]<ref>ibid. M. Grieve. pgs. 855-856</ref>.

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 [[United States Pharmacopoeia|US Pharmacopoeia]]. It is also cited as an [[antispasmodic]] and [[abortifacient]] - the first [[birth control pill]]s were derived from research on epazote.

Epazote [[essential oil]] contains [[ascaridole]] (up to 70%), [[limonene]], [[cymene|p-cymene]], and smaller amounts of numerous other [[terpene|monoterpenes]] and monoterpene derivatives ([[pinene|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.

{{Herbs & spices}}

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Chen_amb.html Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages]
* [http://www.abc.cornell.edu/plants/medicinal/epazote.html Treating Livestock with Medicinal Plants: Beneficial or Toxic? Chenopodium ambrosioides]
* [http://www.rain-tree.com/epazote.htm Tropical Plant database: Chenopodium ambrosioides]

[[Category:Amaranthaceae]]
[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Mesoamerican cuisine]]
[[Category:Nahuatl words and phrases]]

Epazote - Revision history

Envoy at 05:34, 2 July 2007