Hoja Santa in SF Bay Area?
Xoconostle
I'm fortunate to be able to find fresh epazote here in San Francisco's
Mission District, but I can't find fresh Hoja Santa leaves. I've tried
looking into Latin groceries between here and Redwood City, even tried the
San Jose Flea Market once, but I've never found it. Is this something I'll
have to do without in California, or do any kind folks out there know where
I can find it in this area?
Karen O'Mara
What is it, exactly? What do you use it for?
La Costeña market at Rengstorff and Old Middlefield, right off 101 in Mtn.
View, has quite a stock, btw. Or, have you tried Chavez Meat Market at
Middlefield and 5th (?) in Redwood City?
I was thrilled to find squash blossoms at the MtnView farmers market last
weekend. If I knew what these leaves were, I may be able to recall if they had
this...
--
Karen O'
37:23:10 N
122:04:58 W
Xoconostle
checked one of those markets before, but it's been a while.
Hoja Santa is described as being a velvety leaf whose plant is in the black
pepper family. It's also known in Texas as "root beer leaf" for its
sassafras-like flavor. Other names are acuyo, yerba santa, and tlanepa. I've
seen recipes that call for it in sauces, soups, and stews, so it appears to
be versatile like epazote, cilantro, or avacado leaves. I first read of it
in the Bayless books. I'm assuming that it's not generally grown here in
Northern California, and am not sure if it's more of a Tejano or original
Mexican contribution.
"Karen O'Mara" <ka...@randomgraphics.com> wrote in message
news:3B1C4C12...@randomgraphics.com...
BCB
Yerba Santa is one of our native plants here in California. Given you live in
this area, it grows wild all over the place. Take a nice drive along Skyline
boulevard and you'll find it all over the hillsides. Also, if you go to Santa
Cruz at all, you'll find it growing up along Hiw. 17. (don't park on Hiw 17
LOL) Turn onto the Lexington Dam Road (Right outside of town of Los Gatos, up
hiw. 17) and park. Just wander around a bit and you should find lots of it.
Look for it in the "scrub" areas, not in the Forest.. I usually recognize it in
summer because the leaves get all black. They are very sticky and everything
adheres to them. Get yourself a book on Northern California edible native
plants so you can recognize it.
As a point of interest, the Indians in this region smoked it, referred to as
Kini-Kinick. And it was commonly used as a medicinal herb for everything from
bronchial problems to stomach aches.
If you need anymore help let me know.
Barbara
GourmetSleuth.com http://www.gourmetsleuth.com
The gourmet food and cooking resource
Xoconostle
Thanks a million for taking the time to share this fascinating info.
Obviously I haven't done my homework well enough, but your post is very
encouraging. I've probably been around the stuff all my life without knowing
it, specifically. It doesn't surprise me to hear that the herb has
salubrious properties...all the more motivating.
Thanks again, much appreciated. You can trust me to never try parking on 17.
Just driving it is obstacle course enough! :-)
Dean
"BCB" <bcbp...@home.com> wrote in message
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BCB
I learned about that in my "native plant phase", several+ years ago. <g> Another
local herb is Yerba Buena as in.... Yerba Buena (good herb) Island, the natural
land part of Treasure Island in SF. It's in the mint family and is used for
making tea. But actually we have many edible plants here in our area. I have a
good (but older) book called "Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants of California"
by Jeff Callegari & Keith Durand. 7211 View Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530.
Published in 1977. No clue if it's still around. But it is very good. Also
there used to be a little (in size) series of "plant finder" books and I have
one of those for Calif. natives too. That's fun when you are learning too.
And re: driving 17 "amen said the choir... "
Happy cooking!
Barbara