Paracress (Acmella oleracea) is a species of flowering herb. It has a grassy taste, but is most often used for the tingling or numbing sensation it causes, due to the presence of spilanthol. It is used in Amazonian cuisine, where it is sometimes called jambu, and in Malagasy cuisine, where it is called brèdes mafane or anamalaho. Other common names include toothache plant, Szechuan buttons, tingflowers, and electric daisy.
The leaves of paracress are used fresh in salads, or are cooked and used as leafy greens. In Brazil it is used in stews like tacacà, and in Madagascar it is a key ingredient in romazava stew. The flowers of the plant have a strong tingling or numbing sensation. An extract of the plant is also available, which is described as having a citrus, herbal, tropical, or musty odor, as well as a cooling, tingling, or numbing effect. This effect is due to spilanthol, an amino acid that occurs naturally in the plant.

See also:
Categories: Herb Leaf vegetable
Contained by: Romazavamg Tacacápt-br
Characteristic of: Brazilian cuisine Malagasy cuisine
Used to derive: Spilanthol
Also known as:
Brazilian Portuguese: Jambu
French: Brède mafanea
Latin species name: Acmella oleracea
Malagasy: anamalaho
Spanish: hierba de los dientes
Wikidata ID: Q2097498
Wikipedia title: Acmella oleracea
References:
Inbound Links


Unlinked Mentions

Article content licensed under CC-BY-SA; image data under CC-BY-SA from Wikimedia Foundation

        
    ID: 7080