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Herb i.d. (no photo) used in Chinese food?

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Posted by deejaus Melb.Vic. Aust (My Page) on
Fri, Nov 18, 05 at 22:36

My next door neighbour, whom I garden for, has a herb I would love to identify. She is a Chinese (Hong Kong) girl and said they use the leaves in desserts and red bean soup. It has a slightly coconut smell and flavour. It has very fine blue-green leaves and insignificant yellow flowers. It appears to be a shrub (it is only a young plant grown from a cutting). Her grandmother calls it 'smelly herb'. The only thing I could Google with that name was nothing like it. Anyone??
Cheers,
Dee.

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RE: Herb i.d. (no photo) used in Chinese food?

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  • Posted by deejaus Melb.Vic. Aust (My Page) on
    Fri, Nov 18, 05 at 23:42

I have continued my search and have discovered the identity myself. It is Ruta graveolens (Rue). Who would have thought!?
Cheers,
Dee.

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RE: Herb i.d. (no photo) used in Chinese food?

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deejaus - Do you know how how she uses it? I've never met anyone who uses the leaves in cooking. I love the smell of rue and it's one of my favorite plants in the garden. I dry the seed pods for use as a spice, something the ancient Romans were fond of in sauces for rich gamey meats.

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RE: Herb i.d. (no photo) used in Chinese food?

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  • Posted by deejaus Melb.Vic. Aust (My Page) on
    Tue, Nov 22, 05 at 17:48

I don't really know Jamus, but I will ask her next time I see her (which isn't often).
BTW do you know much about it? I believe it should not be taken by pregnant women because it can be abortive, so I have warned her of this fact.
Cheers,
Dee.

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RE: Herb i.d. (no photo) used in Chinese food?

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dee, I'm not very well versed on herbal medicine. You should send an email to daisyduckworth and see what she says. Have a look at the link below for an excellent account of Rue as a food flavoring.

Here is a link that might be useful: gernot katzer on rue

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RE: Herb i.d. (no photo) used in Chinese food?

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Rue (Ruta graveolens)has smallish yellow flowers and blue green leaves. it grows 2' or so. The form "Jackman's Blue" is on of the hardiest and prettiest.
Many people are allergic to rue. It is often sold as an insect repellant in nurseries and is said to repel cats??! People who rub it on their skin tend to come up in nasty red welts.
In medieval times rue was said to be a herb good for the sight. It seems little used now in western medicine or quisine. I too would be interested in how it is used in Asian cooking.
Michael Bailes

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RE: Herb i.d. (no photo) used in Chinese food?

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it's one of my grandmothers herbs so that takes it back to at least the twenties last century when she was being taught to cook.

I can't remember how much she used, but I think she used it like we use rosemary nowadays.

  
 

 

 


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