About Piper auritum Kunth
Piper auritum Kunth is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows up to 6 meters (20 feet) tall. It bears heart-shaped, velvety leaves that can reach 30 centimeters (12 inches) or more in size. Its flowers form simple white spikes that hold thousands of tiny florets, and these spikes rise above the plant’s foliage in a candle-like shape. The entire plant carries a fragrance similar to sassafras. Its complex flavor is difficult to describe simply, and has been compared to eucalyptus, licorice, sassafras, anise, nutmeg, mint, tarragon, and black pepper. The flavor is stronger in the plant’s young stems and leaf veins. This species is native to the Americas, ranging from northern South America to Mexico. It is also cultivated in California and southeast Florida. Piper auritum is commonly used in Mexican cuisine. Fragrant leaves of the plant are wrapped around tamales, fish, or meat during cooking, and it is an essential ingredient in mole verde, a green sauce originating from the Puebla and Oaxaca region of Mexico. It is also used to add flavor to eggs and soups such as pozole. In Central Mexico, it is used to flavor chocolate drinks. In southeastern Mexico, a green liquor called verdín is produced from this plant, which is also known locally as hoja santa. While it is typically used fresh, it can also be used dried. However, the drying process removes much of the plant’s flavor, and makes dried leaves too brittle to use as food wrappers.
