Micro Epazote
Estimated Inventory, 4 oz : 5.00
This item was last sold on : 11/06/24
Grower
Micro Epazote is comprised of small, slightly elongated, oval to lanceolate-shaped leaves that are attached to narrow stems. The green leaves display faintly serrated edges and feature prominent veining across the smooth surface. The microgreens also have a pliable, fresh, and crisp consistency mixed with a subtle crunchiness provided by the tender and succulent, pale green stems. Micro Epazote may emit a faint earthy, medicinal, or turpentine aroma. The microgreens have a milder flavor than mature Epazote and contain a musky, earthy, peppery, and herbal flavor mixed with citrus, thyme, eucalyptus, and pine nuances.
Micro Epazote is available year-round.
Micro Epazote consists of young, edible seedlings that are a part of a line of specialty microgreens grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. The distinctly flavored greens are an innovative creation developed for chefs to reimagine the way epazote is traditionally used. Epazote is an ancient herb native to the Americas and belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. Mature versions of the herb contain a very strong, sometimes offensive odor, giving the plant a pungent and memorable reputation. Despite its strong scent, Epazote has been beloved by chefs and utilized as an accent flavoring in traditional Mexican and Latin cuisine. Micro Epazote captures the essence of mature epazote, allowing chefs to pay homage to traditional flavors, but the microgreen presents the herb in a milder, modern, and aesthetically pleasing way. The microgreens also contain a subtle, peppery, and tangy taste, and the leaves can be placed individually on small plates as a procured garnish, or the greens can be lightly sprinkled across larger preparations for added flavor and textural layers.
Micro Epazote is a source of calcium to strengthen bones and teeth, copper to promote healthy metabolism, and magnesium to maintain optimal nerve functioning. The microgreens may also contain lower amounts of vitamin C to support the immune system and zinc, iron, and phosphorus. It is important to note that the vitamins and minerals are found primarily within the leaves and not in the stems of the microgreens. Growing conditions also significantly impact the nutritional content, and Fresh Origins cultivates their microgreens in a natural setting, an ideal climate for healthy, optimal greens.
Micro Epazote is best used fresh as an edible garnish to showcase the green’s tangy, peppery, and citrus-like flavor. The microgreens provide increased textural and visual appeal and are traditionally added at the end of cooking as a finishing element to prevent the leaves from wilting. It is important to note that Micro Epazote will contain a milder flavor compared to the mature herb, but care should be taken to add a little at a time as not to overpower the dish. Micro Epazote can be incorporated into salads, sprinkled over egg-based dishes, or stirred into grain bowls. The greens can also be mixed into stir-fries or used as a garnish over rice, noodles, or roasted meats. Epazote is traditionally incorporated into Latin, Mexican, and Southwestern cuisine and is used to accent soups, stews, moles, sauces, and salsas. The microgreens can also be garnished over tamales, enchiladas, and quesadillas, or they can be stirred into esquites or toasted corn. Micro Epazote pairs well with cheeses such as goat, queso fresco, and cotija, tomatoes, corn, squash, beans, potatoes, avocadoes, other herbs such as cilantro, oregano, and parsley, and meats including pork, beef, poultry, and fish. The microgreens will generally keep 5 to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
In Mexico, epazote was traditionally used as a medicinal and culinary herb throughout the Aztec Empire. The name epazote is believed by experts to have been derived from “epazotl,” a word that roughly translates to mean “sweat” or “skunk” in the Aztec language Nahuatl. The odiferous moniker was given to the herb for its pungent aroma and commanding flavor. Epazote was often used as a condiment in the Aztec diet. A few leaves were customarily mixed with corn, folded into tamales, or tossed into soups and stews. Epazote was also historically served with beans, known as frijoles de la olla, to reduce gas and bloating. The leaves are believed to have carminative properties, containing compounds that can help break down oligosaccharides or sugar chains found within the outer layers of beans notorious for causing gas. The Aztecs also incorporated epazote into teas to remove intestinal parasites such as pinworms, roundworms, and hookworms, as the leaves contain a compound known as ascaridole, which is toxic to many worm species. In the modern-day, Micro Epazote presents the ancient herb in an unexpected form and captures the essence of the leaves without the overpowering flavor. Micro Epazote was notably featured in Chef Ray Garcia’s tamales at the 2018 StarChefs International Chefs Congress event, a platform to showcase the talent of chefs worldwide.
Epazote is an herb native to Central America, South America, and Southern Mexico. The fast-spreading plant has been found in the wild since ancient times and thrives in tropical to subtropical climates, growing similarly to a weed along roadsides, in pastures, fields, and home gardens. While the mature herb is cultivated worldwide, Micro Epazote was introduced to chefs sometime in the late 20th and early 21st century. Micro Epazote was developed at Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California, the leading American producer of naturally grown microgreens since the mid-1990s. Fresh Origins has been using the mild Southern California climate year-round to produce robust, healthy, and flavorful microgreens for over twenty years, and the farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavorings. Fresh Origins also has the highest level third-party-audited food safety program and is a certified member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which follows science-based food safety practices to promote transparency and honesty in production. Today Micro Epazote can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, and are also found through partners in Canada.
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Recipes that include Micro Epazote. One
is easiest, three is harder.
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Description/Taste
Micro Epazote is comprised of small, slightly elongated, oval to lanceolate-shaped leaves that are attached to narrow stems. The green leaves display faintly serrated edges and feature prominent veining across the smooth surface. The microgreens also have a pliable, fresh, and crisp consistency mixed with a subtle crunchiness provided by the tender and succulent, pale green stems. Micro Epazote may emit a faint earthy, medicinal, or turpentine aroma. The microgreens have a milder flavor than mature Epazote and contain a musky, earthy, peppery, and herbal flavor mixed with citrus, thyme, eucalyptus, and pine nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Micro Epazote is available year-round.
Current Facts
Micro Epazote consists of young, edible seedlings that are a part of a line of specialty microgreens grown by Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California. The distinctly flavored greens are an innovative creation developed for chefs to reimagine the way epazote is traditionally used. Epazote is an ancient herb native to the Americas and belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. Mature versions of the herb contain a very strong, sometimes offensive odor, giving the plant a pungent and memorable reputation. Despite its strong scent, Epazote has been beloved by chefs and utilized as an accent flavoring in traditional Mexican and Latin cuisine. Micro Epazote captures the essence of mature epazote, allowing chefs to pay homage to traditional flavors, but the microgreen presents the herb in a milder, modern, and aesthetically pleasing way. The microgreens also contain a subtle, peppery, and tangy taste, and the leaves can be placed individually on small plates as a procured garnish, or the greens can be lightly sprinkled across larger preparations for added flavor and textural layers.
Nutritional Value
Micro Epazote is a source of calcium to strengthen bones and teeth, copper to promote healthy metabolism, and magnesium to maintain optimal nerve functioning. The microgreens may also contain lower amounts of vitamin C to support the immune system and zinc, iron, and phosphorus. It is important to note that the vitamins and minerals are found primarily within the leaves and not in the stems of the microgreens. Growing conditions also significantly impact the nutritional content, and Fresh Origins cultivates their microgreens in a natural setting, an ideal climate for healthy, optimal greens.
Applications
Micro Epazote is best used fresh as an edible garnish to showcase the green’s tangy, peppery, and citrus-like flavor. The microgreens provide increased textural and visual appeal and are traditionally added at the end of cooking as a finishing element to prevent the leaves from wilting. It is important to note that Micro Epazote will contain a milder flavor compared to the mature herb, but care should be taken to add a little at a time as not to overpower the dish. Micro Epazote can be incorporated into salads, sprinkled over egg-based dishes, or stirred into grain bowls. The greens can also be mixed into stir-fries or used as a garnish over rice, noodles, or roasted meats. Epazote is traditionally incorporated into Latin, Mexican, and Southwestern cuisine and is used to accent soups, stews, moles, sauces, and salsas. The microgreens can also be garnished over tamales, enchiladas, and quesadillas, or they can be stirred into esquites or toasted corn. Micro Epazote pairs well with cheeses such as goat, queso fresco, and cotija, tomatoes, corn, squash, beans, potatoes, avocadoes, other herbs such as cilantro, oregano, and parsley, and meats including pork, beef, poultry, and fish. The microgreens will generally keep 5 to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Mexico, epazote was traditionally used as a medicinal and culinary herb throughout the Aztec Empire. The name epazote is believed by experts to have been derived from “epazotl,” a word that roughly translates to mean “sweat” or “skunk” in the Aztec language Nahuatl. The odiferous moniker was given to the herb for its pungent aroma and commanding flavor. Epazote was often used as a condiment in the Aztec diet. A few leaves were customarily mixed with corn, folded into tamales, or tossed into soups and stews. Epazote was also historically served with beans, known as frijoles de la olla, to reduce gas and bloating. The leaves are believed to have carminative properties, containing compounds that can help break down oligosaccharides or sugar chains found within the outer layers of beans notorious for causing gas. The Aztecs also incorporated epazote into teas to remove intestinal parasites such as pinworms, roundworms, and hookworms, as the leaves contain a compound known as ascaridole, which is toxic to many worm species. In the modern-day, Micro Epazote presents the ancient herb in an unexpected form and captures the essence of the leaves without the overpowering flavor. Micro Epazote was notably featured in Chef Ray Garcia’s tamales at the 2018 StarChefs International Chefs Congress event, a platform to showcase the talent of chefs worldwide.
Geography/History
Epazote is an herb native to Central America, South America, and Southern Mexico. The fast-spreading plant has been found in the wild since ancient times and thrives in tropical to subtropical climates, growing similarly to a weed along roadsides, in pastures, fields, and home gardens. While the mature herb is cultivated worldwide, Micro Epazote was introduced to chefs sometime in the late 20th and early 21st century. Micro Epazote was developed at Fresh Origins Farm in San Diego, California, the leading American producer of naturally grown microgreens since the mid-1990s. Fresh Origins has been using the mild Southern California climate year-round to produce robust, healthy, and flavorful microgreens for over twenty years, and the farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavorings. Fresh Origins also has the highest level third-party-audited food safety program and is a certified member of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which follows science-based food safety practices to promote transparency and honesty in production. Today Micro Epazote can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States, including Specialty Produce, and are also found through partners in Canada.
Learn More...
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Stake Chophouse & Bar | Coronado CA | 619-522-0077 |
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
| Golden Door | San Marcos CA | 760-761-4142 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Micro Epazote. One
is easiest, three is harder.
