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Huacatay  or Peruvian black mint

Huacatay

Peruvian Black Mint

Huacatay (Tagetes minuta), next to other local names also known as Wacatay and Peruvian black mint as well as wild, mint, or southern marigold, is an aromatic herb native to Peru used as a seasoning in cooking as well as for medicinal purposes.

The plant is a flowering member of the marigold family growing in the Peruvian Andes (and all-over South America) to heights of half a meter to two meters (1.5 – 6 feet). Its soft green leaves and tiny yellow or green flowers emit an intense and distinctive, but pleasant fresh marigold floral aroma and taste like a fruity and cooling mixture of basil, tarragon, mint and lime.

Chopped fresh, dried or in paste form Huacatay plays an important role in the Peruvian cuisine especially in dishes from southern Peru. It’s used as condiment in soups, stews and marinates such as the one for Peru’s famous Anticuchos. Often, it’s as well added to or the key ingredient in sauces such as in Salsa ocopa, which not only are served with Peru’s beloved Pollo a la Brasa or to BBQs but also let Arequipa’s simple potato dish Ocopa taste heavenly. And Huacatay as well adds a certain something the meats and vegetables of Peru’s delicious Pachamanca. Juices like Camu-Camu or jams get a first unusual, but then special mint-like flavor when Huacatay leaves are added.

But Huacatay is not only a seasoning giving dishes this special flavor. For thousands of years the aromatic herb is used in Peru as repellent and natural medicine.

Health benefits of Peruvian Huacatay

  • Huacatay is a source of valuable antioxidants and has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and carminative properties.
  • The flavorful tea made from fresh or dried leaves and / or flowers helps fighting colds, respiratory inflammations, and asthma
  • Additionally, Huacatay tea as well as the oil are believed to be effective for treating stomach pains and infections with intestinal parasites such as ascarids and hookworms.
  • And bundles of fresh or dried stems of Huacatay are supposed to keep the house free from insects and bats.

While for years it was nearly impossible to find Huacatay outside Peru, today it's available at least dried, frozen or as paste in Latin American shops or with online retailers. For medicinal purposes huacatay oil is increasingly sold. Finding it fresh might still be a mission, however you could try to plant it as a nice addition in your herb garden.

 

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    Vanessa · 01/06/2023
    My huacatay leaves dried and got brown.  I used compost. Supreme soil and nothing it’s just dying :(
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 02/06/2023
      @Vanessa Hello Vanessa,

      That’s so frustrating. I feel with you.

      Unfortunately, I’m not a garden expert and there could be many reasons your Huacatay plant died.

      Huacatay prefers a warm climate to grow and thrive. In colder climates, Huacatay is only an annual (so best collect the seeds from your dying plant to use next year), in warmer regions a perennial.

      It loves a constant sunny place, needs well-draining sand or clay soils rich in organic material and space. When harvesting the leaves, only cut the upper part of the plant and leave young leaves at the bottom around ten centimeters from the base to regrow.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Lyai · 07/08/2023
      @Vanessa It definitely loves sun! Lots of it and water every night. We started with a tiny strand that died but I still planted 
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Mitch · 11/10/2022
    Huacatay is very easy to grow and can get quite large if grown with a manure rich soil. Ours are about ten feet tall at the moment. This is in mid-October in Nebraska, United States. It was not bothered by insects at all. We just planted the seedlings and watered.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 11/10/2022
      @Mitch Hello Mitch,

      yes, Huacatay can easily be grown in any herb garden. It likes it warm, but if there is no frost and moderate temperatures and enough water, it's usually fast-growing and resistant. And it's a great pest and insect repellent.

      So, enjoy your harvest.

      Greetings
      Eva

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