Epazote AKA Mexican Tea Seeds (Naturally Grown)
Also known as Mexican Tea or Herba Sancti Mariae. This annual Mexican herb has a pungent aroma, spear-shaped, deeply toothed leaves, and green flowers.
Epazote's fragrance is strong and pungent. It has been compared to citrus, petroleum, savory, mint or camphor. With its strong taste and aroma, not everyone takes to it right away. Used as a spice, it adds a wonderful rustic layer of flavor to many Mexican and Latin American dishes, giving them an extra dimension of flavor that just can’t be replicated with any other herb – very similar to the “umami” flavors of fermented Asian ingredients.
Epazote leaves are used to season soup, corn, beans and shellfish in Mexico. It is used in beans to prevent flatulence. It is also brewed for Jesuit Tea. One of the herb's other main uses is to expel intestinal worms from humans and animals. Oil of chenopodium is derived from this plant. Leaves can be dried for later use. 55 days to harvest.
| Botanical Name | Dysphania ambrosioides |
|---|---|
| Seeds Per Pack | 100 |
| Life Cycle | Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate | 8 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate | 21 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds | 1/16 in. |
| When to Sow | Indoors 4-6 weeks before last spring frost, Outdoors after all danger of spring frost is past |
| Growing Height | 36-48 in. (90-120 cm) |
| Plant Spacing | 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) |
| Hardiness | USDA Zone 8b: to 20F, USDA Zone 9a: to 25F, USDA Zone 9b: to 30F, USDA Zone 10a: to 35F, USDA Zone 10b: to 40F, USDA Zone 11a: to 45F |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
| Danger | Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction, Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested, Seed is poisonous if ingested |
| Bloom Color | Chartreuse (Yellow-Green), Pale Green |
| Bloom Time | Mid-Summer |
| Foliage | Grown for Foliage |
| Other Details | Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping |
| Soil pH Requirements | 4.6 to 5.0 (highly acidic), 5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic), 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic), 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline), 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline), 8.6 to 9.0 (strongly alkaline), Over 9.1 (very alkaline) |
| Propagation Methods | From seed; direct sow after last frost, From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting | Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds, Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds, Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed, Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry, Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored, Wear gloves to protect hands when handling seeds |