An Herb To Know: Patchouli Recipe
Yield: 1 info belowRecipe by luhu.jp
Ingredients:
1: Info below,
Directions:
"One mint [Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)] relative thats not so well
known in temperate North America (though it has been grown here at
least since 1900) is patchouli, two species of which (Pogostemon
cablin and P. heyneanus) are increasingly seen in the catalogs of
herb nurseries these days.
"The genus Pogostemon consists of some 30 or 40 species of shrubs,
subshrubs, and herbaceous plants native to tropical Asia. The name
means bearded thread in Greek and refers to the hairy middles of
the four stamens. Other characteristics of the genus include flowers
in whorls in the upper leaf axils; a tubular, five-toothed calyx; a
tubular corolla with four nearly equal lobes, and one style with two
stigmas. The fruits are four seedlike nutlets.
"The name patchouli comes from a Tamil word, paccilai, meaning green
leaf. An alternate common name seen in some older references is
pucha-pat."
"The species of patchouli commonly available in the United States are
P. cablin and P. heyneanus, also known as P. patchouli or P.
patchouly. The latter is sometimes known as smooth or Java patchouli.
Both are shrubby plants which may grow 3 feet tall under optimal
conditions. The green leaves are roughly egg-shaped, up to 4 inches
long, deeply veined, and notched. Flowers of P. cablin are white,
while those of P. heyneanus are tinged with purplish pink. They have
little fragrance.
- Uses -
"Patchouli is known principally for the fragrance of its essential
oil. As one writer has rhapsodized, Fine patchouli has a winelike,
ethereal quality, deep and woody, spicy, almost dry and earthy. Even
those who dont care for the fragrance of the oil may find the scent
of the fresh leaves quite pleasant.
"Patchouli oil is used extensively in the perfume industry. Major
producers include China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Brazil, and the
Seychelles. The oil is steam-distilled from the leaves and stems,
which are harvested two to three times a year, and the quality of the
oil is better if the dried leaves are aged before distillation."
"Other herbal fragrances that are sometimes blended with patchouli
include basil, bergamot, geranium, juniper, lavender, myrrh, neroli,
pine, sandalwood, and rose. Commercial perfumes that contain
patchouli include Tabu, Bill Blass, and Polo.
"Patchouli is frequently used in soaps and cosmetics that are said to
rejuvenate dry and mature skin. It works as a deodorant by masking
body odor. Both the oil and the dried leaves are used in potpourri,
the leaves adding a distinctive texture as well as fragrance to the
mixture. The oil is thought to have fixative properties and is
believed to improve with age.
"Patchouli is not widely used as a medicinal herb; its use may cause
loss of appetite or sleep and nervous attacks. Still, some Eastern
cultures esteem it as a prophylactic. Aromatherapists consider
patchouli an aphrodisiac based on the widely held belief that the
odor stimulates the pituitary gland to release endorphins, chemicals
that kill pain and promote euphoria as well as sexual feelings. They
recommend patchouli for external use to treat anxiety, at least in
small doses; too much can be sedative."
"Patchouli has culinary and industrial uses, too. The fresh leaves
of P. cablin are used as a seasoning, and the dried leaves of P.
heyneanus (the less fragrant of the two species) flavor an alcoholic
beverage. The oil of P. cablin flavors chewing gum, baked goods, and
candy, and that of P. heyneanus has been used in India ink.
"Cashmere shawls imported into France during Napoleons reign were
packed in boxes filled with dried patchouli herb to repel insects.
European copies of the shawls failed to sell until manufacturers
realized that the exotic scent was part of the shawls attraction.
"Cotton balls saturated with patchouli oil and placed among stored
clothing can substitute for the dried leaves as a moth repellent.
Mixing equal parts of dried patchouli leaves and finely ground dried
pyrethrum flowers (which have no aroma) may increase the repellents
effectiveness. Patchouli oil has also been used to repel silverfish
and bookworms from books."
From "An Herb to Know" column in "The Herb Companion." Dec. 1992/Jan.
1993. Vol. 5, No. 2. Pp. 20-21. Posted by Cathy Harned.
Source from luhu.jp
known in temperate North America (though it has been grown here at
least since 1900) is patchouli, two species of which (Pogostemon
cablin and P. heyneanus) are increasingly seen in the catalogs of
herb nurseries these days.
"The genus Pogostemon consists of some 30 or 40 species of shrubs,
subshrubs, and herbaceous plants native to tropical Asia. The name
means bearded thread in Greek and refers to the hairy middles of
the four stamens. Other characteristics of the genus include flowers
in whorls in the upper leaf axils; a tubular, five-toothed calyx; a
tubular corolla with four nearly equal lobes, and one style with two
stigmas. The fruits are four seedlike nutlets.
"The name patchouli comes from a Tamil word, paccilai, meaning green
leaf. An alternate common name seen in some older references is
pucha-pat."
"The species of patchouli commonly available in the United States are
P. cablin and P. heyneanus, also known as P. patchouli or P.
patchouly. The latter is sometimes known as smooth or Java patchouli.
Both are shrubby plants which may grow 3 feet tall under optimal
conditions. The green leaves are roughly egg-shaped, up to 4 inches
long, deeply veined, and notched. Flowers of P. cablin are white,
while those of P. heyneanus are tinged with purplish pink. They have
little fragrance.
- Uses -
"Patchouli is known principally for the fragrance of its essential
oil. As one writer has rhapsodized, Fine patchouli has a winelike,
ethereal quality, deep and woody, spicy, almost dry and earthy. Even
those who dont care for the fragrance of the oil may find the scent
of the fresh leaves quite pleasant.
"Patchouli oil is used extensively in the perfume industry. Major
producers include China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Brazil, and the
Seychelles. The oil is steam-distilled from the leaves and stems,
which are harvested two to three times a year, and the quality of the
oil is better if the dried leaves are aged before distillation."
"Other herbal fragrances that are sometimes blended with patchouli
include basil, bergamot, geranium, juniper, lavender, myrrh, neroli,
pine, sandalwood, and rose. Commercial perfumes that contain
patchouli include Tabu, Bill Blass, and Polo.
"Patchouli is frequently used in soaps and cosmetics that are said to
rejuvenate dry and mature skin. It works as a deodorant by masking
body odor. Both the oil and the dried leaves are used in potpourri,
the leaves adding a distinctive texture as well as fragrance to the
mixture. The oil is thought to have fixative properties and is
believed to improve with age.
"Patchouli is not widely used as a medicinal herb; its use may cause
loss of appetite or sleep and nervous attacks. Still, some Eastern
cultures esteem it as a prophylactic. Aromatherapists consider
patchouli an aphrodisiac based on the widely held belief that the
odor stimulates the pituitary gland to release endorphins, chemicals
that kill pain and promote euphoria as well as sexual feelings. They
recommend patchouli for external use to treat anxiety, at least in
small doses; too much can be sedative."
"Patchouli has culinary and industrial uses, too. The fresh leaves
of P. cablin are used as a seasoning, and the dried leaves of P.
heyneanus (the less fragrant of the two species) flavor an alcoholic
beverage. The oil of P. cablin flavors chewing gum, baked goods, and
candy, and that of P. heyneanus has been used in India ink.
"Cashmere shawls imported into France during Napoleons reign were
packed in boxes filled with dried patchouli herb to repel insects.
European copies of the shawls failed to sell until manufacturers
realized that the exotic scent was part of the shawls attraction.
"Cotton balls saturated with patchouli oil and placed among stored
clothing can substitute for the dried leaves as a moth repellent.
Mixing equal parts of dried patchouli leaves and finely ground dried
pyrethrum flowers (which have no aroma) may increase the repellents
effectiveness. Patchouli oil has also been used to repel silverfish
and bookworms from books."
From "An Herb to Know" column in "The Herb Companion." Dec. 1992/Jan.
1993. Vol. 5, No. 2. Pp. 20-21. Posted by Cathy Harned.
Source from luhu.jp