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. 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 areas, 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.
The name epazote comes from Nahuatl epazotl
(pronounced [e'paso?t?]) via 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 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 and sopes (especially those containing
huitlacoche), soups, 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 beans but also in the treatment of amenorrhea.
Oil of chenopodium 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 . 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.
