Mexican mint

Description

Plectranthus amboinicus, once identified as Coleus amboinicus, is a semi-succulent perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae[1] with a pungent oregano-like flavor and odor. It is native to Southern and Eastern Africa. It is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere in the tropics where it is used as a traditional medicine, spice, and ornamental plant.[1] In Thailand, where its leaves are sometimes eaten with meat salad, it is called tiger's ear for the distinctive shape of its leaf. The aroma of the leaves can be described as a pungent combination of the aromas of oregano, thyme, and turpentine.The taste of the leaves is described as being similar to the one of oregano but with a sharp mintlike pepperiness.