Piper auritum

Mexican pepper-leaf ( Piper auritum )

The Mexican pepper-leaf ( Piper auritum ), also Makulan (Mayan language) or ears pepper, is a plant from the family of the pepper family ( Piperaceae ) with large, fragrant leaves.

Description

The Mexican pepper-leaf is up to five meters tall shrub or tree with about 30 cm large, heart-shaped leaves which are hairy especially among hand easily and often deposit small droplets of resin. The tiny creamy white flowers are crowded into 20 cm long, upward spikes. The plant reproduces mainly by cuttings.

Origin

The plant is native to tropical Central America. She comes today neophyte before in Hawaii and other Pacific islands.

Flavor and ingredients

The fresh pepper exude a spicy anise flavor, which is due to the phenylpropanoid safrole. The toxicity of Safrols makes the use of this exotic spice health risk.

Use

The pepper leaves are an ancient Mesoamerican medicinal and culinary herb. They were used in the form of incense also to Aztec rites, of which the present-day Mexican hoja santa name ( holy leaf ) is derived.

In Mexican folk medicine the leaves are used externally to treat wounds, internally as a remedy for fever and diarrhea.

In Mexican cuisine, especially in southern Mexico, pieces of meat or stuffed corn dumplings ( tamales ) are often wrapped in the leaves and stewed or steamed. In this case, give the leaves their flavor from the food to. In Oaxaca you prepare sauces and pureed pepper leaves to ( mole verde ).