Mexican tarragon tastes like French tarragon with a slight anise flavor. Although it tastes like French tarragon, Mexican tarragon is not a true tarragon (Artemisia). Instead, it is related to marigolds. The foliage resembles tarragon but the flowers are definitely marigolds.
What type of tarragon is considered the best?
French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
It appears to have the purest flavor, and is usually grown from cuttings rather than seed. The plants grow to a height of about 2 – l/2 feet. French leaves are smoother, glossier, darker and more pungent and aromatic than those of the Russian plants.
What are the 3 varieties of tarragon?
There are two types of tarragon — Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculoides) and French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa), both in the Asteraceae (daisy) family.
What is Mexican tarragon good for?
Medicinal use of the herb is popular in Mexican cultures. The entire plant is used to heal colic, stomachaches and nausea. It is commonly used today as a tea, made from flower petals, to treat diarrhea, gas and the common cold. Mexican tarragon is used as a culinary addition to meat and egg dishes.
Which tarragon is best for cooking?
French tarragon.
This standard variety of tarragon is the one most commonly used in cooking, as it is the most flavorful form of the herb. French tarragon is also the most difficult and time-consuming to grow, as the flowers of this variety are sterile and do not produce seeds.
Can you eat Mexican tarragon flowers?
Tagetes lucida may be referred to in recipes as Mexican tarragon, Texas tarragon, mint marigold, Mexican mint marigold or sweet mace. The flowers are edible and can be taken apart and petals sprinkled on salads or soups. Add the leaves at the end of the cooking time for best flavor.
Does tarragon grow back each year?
Although the leaves are at their best fresh, they can also be dried or frozen to enjoy after the growing season ends. An herbaceous perennial, plants go dormant in winter but are among the earliest to reappear, sending up new shoots in late winter to early spring.
How can you tell French tarragon?
Taste first, then plant
The tingle on the tongue and the anise flavor identify the true culinary tarragon. If someone gives you divisions of an older plant, check that the roots are attached to green shoots. If you’re purchasing tarragon, make sure plants in 4-inch pots have at least three green shoots.
Will tarragon grow back after winter?
Tarragon is a perennial herb, meaning that it will die back in the winter but return again in spring, so if your winters stay above -10 degrees Fahrenheit you can plant your tarragon once and watch the plant regrow every spring. If your winters are especially cold, you will need to replant your tarragon every year.
Can Mexican tarragon grow in shade?
Although Mexican tarragon plants tolerate partial shade, the flavor is best when the plant is exposed to full sunlight. Keep in mind that Mexican tarragon may reseed itself. Additionally, new plants are generated whenever the tall stems bend over and touch the soil.
Will Mexican tarragon survive the winter?
Tarragon is only half hardy and doesn’t perform well when exposed to winter chill. There are a few tips to learning how to grow tarragon indoors. Herbs generally like dry soil, bright light, and temperatures near 70 degrees F.
Can you grow Mexican tarragon from cuttings?
This plant grows readily from cuttings. In the spring, take a six-inch stem cutting and remove the leaves from the bottom half. Fill a four-inch container with potting mix, or you can plant the cuttings directly in prepared soil in the garden.
Should you let tarragon flower?
While growing tarragon, should I deflower plants like I do while growing basil? A. Yes, if you get flowers on any herb, it is best to take the flowers off. The flowers sap energy from the plant and it produces fewer and less flavorful leaves.
How tall does Mexican tarragon grow?
2 to 3 feet tall
Mexican tarragon, also called mint marigold or Mexican marigold, has bright green narrow leaves and small golden-yellow flowers and is beautiful in herb gardens or mixed in with annual and perennial plants. This semi-woody herb forms a small, upright bush that grows to be 2 to 3 feet tall.
What do you use French tarragon for?
Add fresh tarragon to all sorts of egg dishes, from scrambled to deviled. Tarragon plays well with a variety of fish, from salmon to tuna to snapper—and even works in a dipping sauce for fish sticks. Use fresh tarragon with bivalves like clams and scallops, too.
What meat does tarragon go with?
Tarragon has a subtle but pronounced taste, which goes well with foods we associate with spring: salmon, chicken, veal, rabbit, eggs and baby vegetables like artichokes, fava beans, asparagus and carrots. Leaves of tarragon inserted under the skin of a chicken before it is roasted permeate the flesh with its flavor.
Do tarragon and thyme go together?
Thyme. Thyme has a sweet, nutty and lightly spicy flavour, making it great for marinades and most meat dishes. It goes well with these herbs: Basil, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and tarragon.
Is French tarragon annual or perennial?
perennial herb
Tarragon is a perennial herb with long, light green leaves and tiny greenish or yellowish white flowers. Here’s how to grow tarragon in your herb garden! For cooking, use French tarragon.
How do you harvest tarragon so it keeps growing?
Snip off the newer baby shoots of light green leaves. Tarragon produces new growth on the old woody branches. Once removed, wash the shoots with cool water and pat them dry gently. When you are ready to use them, you can remove the individual leaves by sliding your fingers down the length of the shoot.
Does tarragon like full sun?
Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in average garden soil. Mix in compost at planting time, but do not give it any fertilizer. Good drainage is important, so growing in a raised bed is helpful. It will tolerate a variety of soil conditions and a pH of 6.2-8.0.
Does French tarragon like sun?
Either way you are propagating French tarragon, the plants prefer full sun exposure and warm but not hot temps. Temperatures over 90 degrees F. (32 C.) may require coverage or partial shading of the herb.
Marilyn Medina is a food expert with over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry. She has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world, including The Ritz-Carlton and The French Laundry.
What makes Marilyn stand out from other chefs is her unique approach to cooking. She believes that food should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget or dietary restrictions. Her recipes are simple, delicious, and healthy – perfect for anyone who wants to cook like a pro!