Okinawan spinach
Okinawan spinach is native to China, Thailand and Myanmar. It is cultivated as a vegetable or as a medicinal herb.
Herbs
Chili pepper Capsicum chinense
Capsicum chinense is species of chili pepper with several different varieties, including Habanero and Madame Jeanette.
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Chili pepper Capsicum frutescens
Capsicum frutescens is a species that includes several varieties of chili peppers: Piri piri, Malaguete pepper, Tabasco pepper, and Thai pepper.
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Basil
Basil is a culinary herb which is used a lot in Italian food. It is also common in certain dishes of Northeast and Southeast Asia. There are different varieties of basil, each with a slightly different taste.
St John’s wort
St John's wort, is a medicinal herb that is used to treat depression. It is grown commercially in some parts of south east Europe, but in other places it is considered a weed. The plant is poisonous to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, horses).
Sweetleaf
Sweetleaf or Stevia is a plant originating from South America. It is known for its sweet leaves, which are used to make sweeteners, which are also known as “stevia”.
In Brazil and Paraguay the leaves have been in use for hundreds of years, not only as sweetener but also as a traditional medicine.
Lemon verbena
Lemon verbena is a small shrub which is used as a herb. It has a typical lemon flavor. The leaves are used to make herbal tea or to flavor fish, poultry, salad dressings, jams, puddings, tea, etc. Lemon verbena can also be used in potpourri.
Common Dandelion
Often considered a weed, the common dandelian can also be used as a medical herb and as food. Dandelion leaves can be collected from the wild but are also sometimes grown to be used as a leaf vegetable. Young leaves and unopened buds are used raw in salads. Older leaves are cooked.
Centella
Centella, or Asiatic pennywort, is a medicinal herb, which is used in traditional African and traditional Chinese medicine. Some claim that it can cure or help relieve arthritis.
Common rue
Common rue can be grown as a deterrent for cats and is also used as an insect repellent. It is a herb with a bitter taste. In Ethiopia leaves of common rue are dipped in coffee to give the coffee an additional flavor. Also used as a medicinal plant to improve appetite and digestion.
Feverfew
Feverfew is a herb which is sometimes used as a herbal medicine for example to prevent headaches, migraines, and to reduce fever.
The pretty flowers look a bit like daisies and are therefore sometimes planted in gardens as an ornamental plant. Leaves smell a bit like citrus.
Rosemary
Names Scientific Rosmarinus officinalisEnglish RosemaryDutch RozemarijnSpanish RomeroFrench RomarinGerman RosmarinItalian Rosmarino Taxonomy Genus RosmarinusFamily LamiaceaeOrder Lamiales Crop categories Herbs Subtropical crops Pictures
Capsicum spp
Capsicum is a genus of plants that includes several species of which the fruits are used as vegetables or spices. Some of these are hot peppers, while others are sweet peppers or bell peppers.
Chili pepper Capsicum annuum
The species Capsicum annuum includes bell peppers (wich are not hot) and hot or vey hot chili peppers.
Bell peppers are found worldwide in areas with tropical or warm climate. The fruits can be eaten raw (e.g. in salads) or cooked (e.g. in stir-fried dishes).
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Longevity spinach
Longevity spinach is an edible vine which grows in Southeast Asia, China and Africa. The plant is collected from the wild but is also grown as a vegetable or as a medicinal plant.
Chameleon plant
The Chameleon plant is native to Japan, Korea, southern China, and Southeast Asia. It is grown as a leaf vegetable or for use as a medicinal herb for its antiviral and antibacterial activities.
Holy basil
Holy Basil or Tulsi is an aromatic plant which is used as a herb. A variety called Thai Holy Basil or Kaphrao, is often used in Thai cuisine, for example in 'phat kraphao' which is a stir-fried dish with beef, pork or chicken.
Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is a perennial herb. It is cultivated only in small quantities and sometimes grown in gardens. The leaves have a strong smell which resembles that of spearmint.
The plant is sometimes used as a cooking herb. In small quantities, teas of Pennyroyal are used for medicinal purposes. Essential oil extracted from the plant (Pennyroyal oil) is very poisonous.
Culantro
Culantro is sometimes confused with Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) because the names are alike and also the taste is a bit similar, but culantro has a stronger taste.
It is used as a herb in Caribbean and Southeast Asian dishes, usually fresh, but sometimes as a dried herb. Culantro is also used as a medicinal plant to treat all kind of problems including stomachache, fevers, asthma, snake bites, worms and diarrhea.
Wild betel
Leaves of the Wild betel (Piper sarmentosum) are similar to Betel leaves (Piper betle) but the taste is less intense. The Wild betel leaves are used in Thailand in a dish called Miang kham, where the leaves are used to wrap several ingredients together and are then eaten as a snack or starter.
Watercress
Names Scientific Nasturtium officinaleEnglish WatercressDutch Witte waterkersSpanish Berro Mastuerzo de aguaFrench Cresson de fontaineGerman Brunnenkresse Echte BrunnenkresseItalian Crescione d’acqua Taxonomy Genus NasturtiumFamily BrassicaceaeOrder Brassicales Crop categories Vegetables Leaf vegetables Herbs Medicinal plants Food crops Temperate crops Pictures
Valerian
Names Scientific Valeriana officinalisEnglish Garden valerian ValerianDutch Echte valeriaan ValeriaanSpanish Valeriana común Valeriana medicinalFrench Valériane à petites feuilles Valériane des collines Valériane officinaleGerman Echter Arznei-Baldrian Echter Baldrian Hexenkraut KatzenkrautItalian Valeriana comune Taxonomy Genus ValerianaFamily ValerianaceaeOrder Dipsacales Crop categories Herbs Medicinal plants Temperate crops Pictures
Tarragon
Tarragon has a peppery anise taste. Tea of this herb is used to help with kidney problems.
Both the leaves and flowers of tarragon are edible.
Shiny-leaf buckthorn
Shiny-leaf Buckthorn is small tree or shrub that originates from Africa.
In Ethiopia this plant is called Gesho. It is used to produce a type of mead called Tej. The stems of gesho are boiled to prepare an extract that is similar to hops and gives the drink a bitter taste. It is also used to brew an Ethiopian beer called tella. The gesho tree also has edible shiny red fruits.
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Rooibos
Leaves of Rooibos are first oxidized and are then used to prepare a kind of tea with a reddish color.
Pot marigold
Has some medicinal properties and is used for example to treat skin problems. Flowers can be used in salads.
Perilla
Perilla is grown in China, Japan and Korea.
Perilla frutescens var. crispa is an aromatic leafy herb.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a hybrid mint. It is a cross between the watermint (Mentha aquatica) and the spearmint (Mentha spicata).
Parsley
Parsley leaves are used as herbs. Especially the type with curly leaves is often used as garnish.
Within this species are several quite different varieties. There are two types of parsley grown for their leaves which are either flat or curly leaves. Another type of parsley is grown for its roots.
Oregano
Names Scientific Origanum vulgareEnglish OreganoDutch Oregano Wilde marjoleinSpanish OréganoFrench OriganGerman OreganoItalian Origano Taxonomy Genus OriganumFamily LamiaceaeOrder Lamiales Crop categories Herbs Spices Medicinal plants Temperate crops Pictures
Mint
Names Scientific Mentha spp.English MintDutch MuntSpanish Mastranto MentaFrench MentheGerman MinzenItalian Menta Taxonomy Genus MenthaFamily LamiaceaeOrder Lamiales Crop categories Herbs Essential oils Pictures
Marjoram
Marjoran is grown for its aromatic leaves which are used fresh or dried as herbs, for example in the praparation of sausages.
Marjoram is related to oregano.
Lovage
Its flavor and smell are similar to celery. Used in salads, soups, sauces and stews. It helps to stimulate digestion.
Lemon grass
Lemon grass is a tropical plant.
Lemon grass is an important ingredient in many Thai recipes. It is also used as a medicine, for example the leaves are used to make a tea to treat stomach problems.
Lemon basil
Lemon basil is grown in northeastern Africa and southern Asia.
It is used as a herb in cooking. It has a strong lemon scent.
Lemon basil is a hybrid between basil (Ocimum basilicum) and African basil (Ocimum americanum).
Lemon balm
Fresh or dried leaves are used to prepare tea. Crushed leaves are rubbed on the skin as a repellant for mosquitos. Used in soups and sauces, often in fish recipes.
Flowers of lemon balm attract many bees.
Lavender
Names Scientific Lavandula spp.English LavenderDutch LavendelSpanish LavandulaFrench LavandeGerman LavendelItalian LavandaOther Lavanta Taxonomy Genus LavandulaFamily LamiaceaeOrder Lamiales Crop categories Herbs Medicinal plants Essential oils Subtropical crops Industrial crops Pictures
Kaffir lime
Leaves of the kaffir lime are used fresh or dried as a herb or spice. The juice is very acidic.
Jasmine
Jasmine flowers are used to make Jasmine Tea and in the production of perfumes and incense.
The genus Jasminum includes many species. Some cultibated species are: Jasminum grandiflorum, Jasminum nudiflorum, Jasminum officinale, and Jasminum sambac.
Herb Hyssop
Herb hyssop has antiseptic properties and is used as a medicinal plant to suppres coughing.
Gray santolina
Gray santolina originates from the Mediterranean region.
Decoctions of Santolina are used to remove intestal parasites. The plant is also used in the production of perfumes. It is also used as an insect repellent.
Flat leaf parsley
Names Scientific Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanumEnglish Flat leaf parsleyDutch BladpeterselieSpanish Perejil comúnFrench Persil de Naples Persil platGerman Glatte Petersilie Taxonomy Genus PetroselinumFamily ApiaceaeOrder Apiales Crop categories Leaf vegetables Herbs Subtropical crops Temperate crops Pictures