Vietnamese
coriander (Polygonum odoratum )
Plant family: Polygonaceae (buckwheat family)
Botanical synonyms: Persicaria odorata
Origin: Vietnamese coriander is native to peninsular Southeast Asia
(Indochina).
Used plant part: Leaves, always used fresh
Sensoric quality: The herb has a coriander-like smell with a clear
lemony note. Pungency, which dominates in the closely related water
pepper, is hardly present..
The Vietnamese coriander is a perennial plant that grows best in
tropical and subtropical zones in warm and damp conditions. It can
not live above the 32° parallel or in places with too much water.
has a bitter and spicy taste, is nontoxic, and can detoxify food. It
can be used to treat swellings, acne, indigestion, flatulence, and
stomach aches.In advantageous conditions, it can grow up to 15 This
herb is such an intrinsic part of the famous Singaporean/Malaysian
seafood soup, laksa, that it is known locally as daun laksa (laksa
leaf).to 30 cm. |