The investigation into this quelite came about as a result of one of my favourite anise scented herbs, Pericón (Tagetes lucida) (1) which also just happens to be in one of my favourite genera (and Families too now that I think on it – family Asteraceae in case you wondered). Sorry, got side-tracked, it happens on occasion. Now, pericón is also colloquially known as “cloud” … Continue reading Tzitziqui(litl)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) arising from the misuse and overuse of antibiotics is a significant global health concern (Saed etal 2024). Studies have found that approximately 40 % of all registered resistant infections were caused by bacteria resistant to last-line antibiotics, which makes them nearly impossible to treat (Murray etal 2022) (Hofer 2019). It is expected that if the antimicrobial resistance issue remains unsolved, the associated … Continue reading Papalo as Medicine : Study Continues.
This dish resulted from a challenge given me by my friend Juan. I am known amongst my Mexican friends as Jamaica Man because I bring agua de jamaica to all of the FOMEX (1) events held in our city. At our last event (Mexican Independence Day celebration) which we held the day the Tallship Cuauhtemoc departed the Port of Fremantle (2), Juan regaled me of … Continue reading Flor de Jamaica : Tacos dorados con Crema de Aguacate
It is that time of year again. The days are waning, the nights are cooling (well they would be if I was Northern hemispherical) and my feeds are filling up with the autumnal imagery of this season of spirits. The boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead fluctuate and bleed into each other and we welcome the memories of those who have … Continue reading Cempasúchil and Popocatepetl
Porophyllum is a genus of phanerogamous (1) plants belonging to the family Asteraceae (2) . The pore-leaf family includes 101 described species and of these, only 27 are accepted. They are native subshrubs of the Americas. As their name suggests (4), their leaves often have large glands that produce aromatic oils that give off a strong odour. The large majority of these plants are used … Continue reading Porophyllum iruyense
Lengua de vaca Now, when I speak of lengua de vaca (cows tongue) I am not speaking of the actual tongue of a cow but of a wild herb or “quelite”. The herb is no doubt (as you will see further down) named for its general appearance (shape and size wise in some cases) of a cows tongue. Commonly used and appreciated in México, the … Continue reading Quelite : Lengua de vaca
For those who like to complain of such things…….This IS NOT a sponsored or paid article. I am simply posting it as I find the herb (and the product) to be interesting. I have not eaten any of the following products featured in this Post (except the guajillos and dried hoja santa por supesto). Hey but if you want to sponsor me (or send me … Continue reading Salsa de Pápalo
The beverage, bate, is a traditional beverage of the state of Colima made from toasted and ground chan, beaten with water and sweetened with honey or a kind of molasses prepared from piloncillo, or hard brown sugar. The chan seed is an interesting pseudograin that hails originally from the Mexican state of Colima. Suchitlán is a small town around 20 kilometres outside of the state … Continue reading Prehispanic Drinks – Bate
I have posted on the herb chipilin previously and noted both its culinary and medicinal uses. Check this out at Quelite : Chipilin : Crotalaria longirostrata I want to expand upon my original Post with some cultural background on the herb and a legend on the creation of the plant. Many plants have creation myths, usually involving death, violence and/or a tragic love story, and … Continue reading Ixchel and the Legend of Chepil
I have briefly written of this plant (or one of its ilk). See my previous Post Quelite : Mafafa. It is important you check the WARNINGS in this Post as all varieties of this plant contain highly irritant calcium oxalate crystals which need to be removed (by cooking) before the plant can be safely consumed. A couple of months ago I noted an African person … Continue reading Quelite : Mafafa : Eating the Taro stem
Masa Americana 