Epazote
Epazote is a rather ordinary looking herb that is not well known, but it’s definitely worth growing a plant or two in the kitchen garden. Although unheard of by most gardeners, this herb is easy to cultivate and can be found growing wild in many parts of the United States and Mexico. It also goes by the names of Mexican Tea and Wormseed.
Epazote Uses and Recipes
Epazote is reputed to have some beneficial medicinal uses, but it is better known as a culinary herb and is often used in Caribbean and Mexican cuisine. It can be likened to cilantro or even arugula in that it has a very distinct flavor that you’ll either love or hate.
The most popular dishes incorporating epazote are unquestionably legumes such as pinto beans and black beans. This herb is also featured in soups and other recipes containing eggs or cheeses. I’ve seen some reports questioning the toxicity of consuming large quantities of epazote, so this is an herb that I only use occasionally and in moderation as a seasoning.
Epazote from the Grocer or the Garden
You won’t find epazote on the shelves of your local grocer so if you want to try it you’ll either have to find some growing in the wild or plant it in your herb garden. I have seen dried epazote for sale occasionally at organic food stores or specialty ethnic grocery stores but it’s much better to use the fresh leaves.
Although it is easy to grow, the biggest challenge may be locating a source for epazote seeds. This branching herb will grow three to four feet in height and one plant will supply more than enough for average kitchen uses. Epazote has medium green serrated leaves with a very pungent aroma when crushed.
Although epazote is a tender annual, once it is established you’ll discover volunteers growing in the garden during following seasons. So if you train your eye to distinguish the young seedling from a useless weed, this can be one of those naturalizing plants that you cultivate one time and then enjoy it forever without the need for replanting.
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November 6th, 2005 at 11:09 pm
Hi! I was very surprised to see that anyone on this side of the border would know what epazote is! I could almost smell it, wait, I can! Mmm, my mother taught me to use it inside cheese and zucchini flower quesadillas (homemade corn tortillas, of course), in pinto bean soup and in pork stew. Where did you get the plant or seeds? I’d love to have it around, especially now that she’s gone.
November 10th, 2005 at 9:54 pm
Hi Dinorah. Those cheese and zucchini flower quesadillas sure sound delicious! I’ve never seen Epazote plants for sale, but you can obtain seeds from a few specialty herb seed suppliers. I believe my seed was purchased from Nichols Garden Nursery. Better yet, if you know someone that’s growing it, the plant produces a ton of seed that they could share. In fact, I’d bet that you could find someone who is willing to trade all the Epazote seeds you could grow, in exchange for your quesadilla recipe (hint, hint)! Seriously, send me an email and I’ll see if I can locate a few seeds for you.
May 26th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
I have an epazote plant. We have a great herb festival every year and you can always find all kinds of herbs. My only problem is that I don’t know where to plant my epazote plant. Is it a good companion plant for anything?
May 27th, 2006 at 10:01 am
June, Epazote can be planted pretty much anywhere just keep in mind that it grows tall and will spread out a bit as it becomes bushy. Epazote will also naturalize in your garden if you allow it to set seeds. I like to plant it in a bed that contains perennial herb or vegetable plants. The volunteers sprout every year and aren’t disturbed by cultivation if you grow your Epazote in a perennial bed. The volunteers are easy to control though so you can allow this herb to grow in any part of the garden without worry over it becoming a troublesome weed.
December 9th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Does anyone know if epazote can be grown as far north as Victoria, BC, Canada? It’s in the Pacific Northwest.
December 10th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
Hi Margot, I’m sure that you can grow epazote during your spring-summer growing seasons. Even if you garden in a cold weather region with a short growing season, epazote is a very fast growing herb and much hardier than herbs such as basil and cilantro. Just plant the epazote seeds in the spring after the weather warms and it will grow like a weed with little care required. It will also self seed and return each season once it has become established in the garden.
March 6th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I am looking for epazote seeds, I live in San Francisco bay (Redwood City). Could you let me know if I could get it from you and how.
Thanks
Miguel Tapia
March 6th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Hi Miguel, During the summer I always have epazote plants in the garden producing seed. This herb self seeds easily and new plants germinate every spring. Unfortunately I don’t have any epazote seeds saved that I can share with you right now, but you can find them listed at Nichols Garden Nursery.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Margot,
I ordered epazote from the following supplier in British Columbia: Salt Spring Seeds.
I received them this morning.
HTH,
JC