Mexican tea, Spanish-tea
Dysphania ambrosioides

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

An annual or perennial herb or small shrub. It grows up to 1 m high and spreads to 50 cm across. The stem is erect and strongly branched from the base. It has angular ribs towards the tip. It has attractive, toothed leaves. They are oblong and yellowish green. They can be red-green. The undersides of the leaves are marked with small resin particles. The leaves are 1.5-10 cm long by 0.5-3.5 cm wide. The leaves have a bad smell. The flowers are green, and occur as many together, in spikes. The fruit are small green bladder shaped structures with shiny brown black seeds.

It contains poisonous substances once used to treat worms. It reduces the gases produced from eating beans. The plant is used for medicine. There are about 100-150-250 Chenopodium species. They are mostly in temperate regions. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It will grow under a range of soil and climate conditions. It is drought and frost resistant. It grows in tropical places but also in temperate places. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 2,000 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 500 and 3000 m altitude. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,100-1,600 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Amazon, Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Is., Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chile, China, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Crete, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, French, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico (country/location of origin), Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sinai, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: It is probably best not to eat this plant in large quantities. The leaves have been used as a substitute for tea. The leaves are added to beans, and to season soups and other dishes. Leaves can be dried and they retain their flavour. The fresh leaves can be stored for 2-3 days. The seeds can be ground into black flour and mixed with water and eaten. They are also roasted and added to alcoholic drinks. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.

It is not known if it is used in Papua New Guinea. It is popular in cooking in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. It is a cultivated food plant. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, seeds, herb, spice, leaves, flowers, stems

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Akatasavola, American epazote, American Wormseed, Amush, Babre nagdi, Bathoo, Bathu, Bathwa, Caa re, Care, Dau giun, Desi bathoo, Epasote, Epazote, Fragrant Tiger Bones, Goosefoot, Huauzontle, Ihkgna,Jangli battoon, Jerusalem-tea, Jilmil sak, Kanyuku, Katu ayamoddakam, Kwinifi, Mbosia, Mbozya, Nkhinza, Munhuhwenhuhwe, Nkasa kindongo, Paico, Paico macho, Paicu, Paiku, Pasare bethe, Payco, Payqu, Pazote, Rato latte, Say-myu, Tetrolokoloko, Teya, Tho kinggioi, Tu jing jie, Wormseed

Synonyms

Atriplex ambrosioides Crantz.; Ambrina ambrosioides Spach.; Blitum ambrosioides Beck.; Chenopodium ambrosioides L.; Chenopodium anthelminticum L.; Chenopodium citriodorum Steud.; Chenopodium cuneifolium Vent. ex Moq.; Chenopodium integrifolium Vorosch.; Chenopodium querciforme Murr.; Chenopodium santamaria Vell.; Chenopodium spathulatum (Moq.) Sieber ex Moq.; Chenopdium suffruticosum Willd.; Chenopodium vagans Standl.; Chenopodium variegatum Gouan; Dysphania anthelmintica (L.) Hook. & Arn.; and others