A rising culinary star, and essential in traditional Mexican and South American cooking, especially bean dishes and soups, and in contemporary Latino fusion fare. There is no real substitute for it.

The plant prefers a rich, well-drained soil in a sunny position, but will tolerate poor soil. Pinch back to keep from going to seed. Younger leaves have a milder, richer flavour. Harvest leaves before the plant flowers for best flavour.

NOTE: The seeds and the seed oil are very potent medicinally and should be used only with great caution, and never by those who are pregnant or hoping to conceive. For the leaves, centuries of use in food suggests that the leaves are quite safe when consumed in reasonable amounts.

Type: Annual

Seeds per pack: 5

Germination: Place the seeds on the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Keep continually moist until germination. Seed requires light and may take several weeks to germinate.