Discover Mexican tarragon, a lesser-known herb that hides a treasure trove of benefits for your health and well-being. Often overshadowed by its more famous relatives, this powerful plant not only enriches meals with its unique flavor and aroma but also offers a surprising variety of antioxidant, sedative, soothing, anti-inflammatory, hypnotic, and antipyretic properties. From improving digestion to combating depression and anxiety with its phenolic compounds and flavonoids, Mexican tarragon is a versatile ally in the pursuit of a healthier life.
This article invites you to explore the secrets of Mexican tarragon, revealing how this aromatic herb can transform your health in ways you never imagined. With scientific evidence and testimonials supporting its effectiveness, prepare to be guided on a journey of discovery, where you will learn not only to appreciate the culinary value of Mexican tarragon but also to incorporate its holistic benefits into your daily routine.
What is Tarragon?
Known scientifically as Artemisia Dracunculus, tarragon is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family, with green, slender, and pointed leaves, highly aromatic. It can reach up to 120 cm in height and grows wild in southern Europe and North America.
It is also known by the names dragon’s mouth, dragon herb, and tarragon.
What are the Benefits of Mexican Tarragon?
Mexican tarragon, scientifically known as Artemisia dracunculus, is an herb valued not only for its use in the kitchen but especially for its impressive health benefits.
Main Benefits of Mexican Tarragon:
- Antioxidant: Contains compounds that fight free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and delaying signs of aging.
- Digestive: Facilitates digestion by promoting the expulsion of gases and preventing abdominal inflammation, thanks to its carminative effects.
- Blood Sugar Regulator: Helps improve insulin sensitivity and maintain balanced glucose levels, being of great help to people with diabetes or insulin resistance.
- Natural Sedative: Has properties that can relieve stress and anxiety, promoting calmness and encouraging healthy nighttime rest.
- Rich in Nutrients: Provides a source of essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to eye health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Types of Tarragon:
Due to its importance in gastronomy and its distinctive properties, the cultivation of tarragon has spread to many other regions, generating varieties that stand out mainly for their qualities in terms of aroma and flavor.
Variations of Tarragon:
- French Tarragon: Essential in French cuisine, with a milder taste and delicate aroma.
- Russian Tarragon: Much more intense and bitter than the former, mainly used for preparing beverages.
- Mexican or Spanish Tarragon: Very similar to the French variety, but with a more intense flavor. It is perfectly adapted to warm climates, and its flowers are edible.
What Properties Does Tarragon Have?
Eupéptic: aids in digestion.
Carminative: reduces the occurrence of gas and facilitates its expulsion.
Cholagogue and choleretic: promote the production and expulsion of bile.
Emmenagogue: Stimulates blood flow to the pelvic area and encourages menstruation.
It also contains the following components:
- Nerol: a substance that prevents gastric ulcers and fights gastritis and the bacteria that cause it, H. Pylori.
- Vitamin C: an antioxidant and stimulant for the immune system. Vitamin A: promotes tissue formation.
- Salicylic Acid: an excellent anti-inflammatory analgesic.
- Coumarins: have anticoagulant, antiseptic, and antispasmodic properties.
This is just a sample of the multiple properties and components of tarragon, which has many other compounds, such as acids, phenols, and tannins, that confer properties like anticancer, expectorant, and antihistamine, vasodilator, and anti-rheumatic.
What Does Tarragon Taste Like?
Tarragon is characterized by a flavor very similar to licorice, quite aniseed-like, between bitter and spicy, with touches of vanilla and, to a lesser extent, eucalyptus, mint, and pepper. It’s important to remember that each variety has a slightly different flavor and aroma, given the cultivation conditions and its adaptation to other regions.
What Are the Uses of Tarragon?
Tarragon, an aromatic herb with a distinctive and slightly aniseed-like flavor, is appreciated in both cooking and natural medicine for its versatility and wide range of applications. This ingredient, a star in French cuisine, transcends culinary limits to offer benefits that improve overall well-being. Below are the most notable uses of tarragon, illustrating its importance in both the gastronomic and therapeutic realms.
Culinary Uses:
- Flavoring: Tarragon is used to infuse flavor into vinaigrettes, sauces, such as the famous Bearnaise, and dressings, thanks to its unique aroma that perfectly complements meats, fish, and vegetables.
- Preservation: Its leaves are employed in preserving pickles and other vegetables, adding a touch of flavor while preserving them.
- Infusions: Tarragon leaves are also used to prepare aromatic teas believed to aid digestion and promote relaxation.
Medicinal Uses:
- Digestive: Traditionally, it has been used to alleviate digestive issues, such as flatulence and stomach spasms, due to its carminative properties.
- Sedative: Tarragon can act as a mild sedative, helping to reduce anxiety and promote restorative sleep.
- Anti-inflammatory: It is attributed with anti-inflammatory properties that can relieve pain and inflammation, especially in cases of arthritis.
Other Uses:
- Oral Health: Thanks to its antibacterial properties, tarragon has been used in oral care to freshen breath and protect against oral bacteria.
- Menstrual Improvement: Some traditional practices suggest the use of tarragon to ease menstrual pains and regulate cycles.
Tarragon stands out for its multifunctionality, offering a wide range of uses from enhancing dishes to relieving various conditions. Incorporating it into both cooking and personal care routines can enrich daily life, providing benefits that go beyond its gastronomic value.
How Is Tarragon Used in Cooking?
Tarragon is used both fresh and dried, though it’s worth noting that, due to its delicate nature when dried, it loses much of its aromatic properties and flavor, making it not the preferred choice among chefs.
To use it fresh, you should wash and dry the leaves well, separate them from the stem, and then incorporate them into your recipe of choice, whether whole or chopped. It should always be used raw or added towards the end of cooking, as it can become bitter.
If using dried tarragon, you’ll need to adjust the amount, possibly adding even three times the amount that corresponds; moreover, it should always be added at the beginning of cooking.
How Is Tarragon Used in Medicine?
The most common way to use tarragon is in the form of an infusion, for which you need:
- 5 grams of dried leaves
- 250 ml of water
Simply boil the water, add the tarragon, and boil for a couple of minutes. Turn off, let it sit covered for a moment, and it’s ready; drink a beverage after meals to take advantage of its properties and benefits.
It can also be chewed to combat bad breath and oral issues, thanks to its antiseptic properties. Also, remember that by incorporating it into your recipes, you’ll already be benefiting from all its properties.
What Are the Side Effects of Tarragon?
This wonderful plant is not without its side effects, so care should be taken not to consume it daily or in large amounts, as it could lead to:
- Intoxication.
- Biliary colic.
- Digestive disorders (especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease).
Overuse can cause cancer due to the estragole and methyl-eugenol present in the plant. The recommended period for tarragon treatment is no more than ten days. Its consumption is not recommended for pregnant women because it contains thujone, an abortive substance. Likewise, nursing mothers should avoid its consumption due to the toxicity this plant can have on their babies.