Saturday, October 13, 2007

Mint (Podina)

Peppermint and spearmint are the two most widely used mints. They grow readily in most soils, and are indispensable to Asian cooking. They are used interchangeably with fresh coriander in cooked dishes, but probably the most popular accompaniment made with mint is one which is so simple that most Indian cooks make it without referring to a recipe. Called podina chatni, it is served as a dip with appetisers, an accompaniment with rice and a filling for savoury lentil pancakes. In Thailand, mint leaves are used in salads, as flavour accents with other ingredients as in the northern Thai dish called larb.

Health Tips: Peppermint is used as a stimulant, carminative and stomachic. Peppermint tea is used to treat nausea, flatulence, sickness and vomiting.

Other Languages:
China: yang po ho, paoh-ho
India: podina
Indonesia: janggat
Japan: hakuka
Malaysia: pohok
Philippines: yerba buena
Sri Lanka: meenchi
Thailand: bai saranae
Vietnam: rau huong lui

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