Kawakawa
카와카와
ⓒ
Photo: Kahuroa · Public domain · Original file (Wikimedia Commons)
A heart-shaped leaf found only in New Zealand, and a relative of pepper. Chew it and it's bitter and peppery, and your mouth goes a little numb. In Māori tradition, leaves with holes chewed by caterpillars are considered better.
Flavor and aroma
- It's bitter and peppery, with a basil-like aroma.
- Your mouth goes slightly numb.
Fun facts
- The Māori word kawa means "bitter."
- It's in the pepper family (Piperaceae), the same family as black pepper and as the plant used to make kava, a traditional Pacific Island drink.
- Folklore The many holes in the leaves come from caterpillars that feed at night. The Māori consider leaves with holes better as medicine.
- University of Auckland research suggests the numbing feeling comes from a compound called pellitorine.
- Early European settlers drank it instead of tea and also brewed beer with it.
In the kitchen
Drinks
- Steep a few leaves and grated ginger in boiling water, then add lemon and honey for tea.
Alcohol
- Use it in brewing beer.
Cooking
- Use it to add a pepper and basil aroma to both sweet and savory dishes.
Fruit
- The orange fruit is sweet and tastes like papaya. Don't chew the seeds; spit them out.
Goes well with
GingerLemonHoney
Season
We're still checking the season. We'll add it once we find a source.
Details
- Korean name
- 카와카와
- English names
- kawakawa, New Zealand pepper tree
- Scientific name
- Piper excelsum
- Former scientific names
- Macropiper excelsum
- Family
- Piperaceae
- Genus
- Piper
Show sources for this page
References for this herb
- Wikipedia
- Te Ara 뉴질랜드 백과사전
- 오클랜드대학교
- Meaning of Trees
- Tiritiri Matangi
Name and classification
Photo
Kahuroa · Public domain · Original file (Wikimedia Commons)