Yerba buena

Yerba buena or hierba buena is the Spanish name for a number of aromatic plants, most of which belong to the mint family. Yerba buena translates as "good herb". The specific plant species regarded as yerba buena varies from region to region, depending on what grows wild in the surrounding landscape, or which species is customarily grown in local gardens. Perhaps the most common variation of this plant is spearmint (Mentha spicata). The term has been (and is currently) used to cover a number of aromatic true mints and mint relatives of the genera Clinopodium, Satureja or Micromeria. All plants so named are associated with medicinal properties,[1][2][3] and some have culinary value as herbal teas or seasonings as well.

This article is about the various aromatic plants known by the common name yerba buena. For other uses, see Yerba buena (disambiguation).
2' tall yerba buena in garden

Local variants

In the western United States, yerba buena most often refers to the species Clinopodium douglasii[4] (synonyms: Satureja douglasii, Micromeria douglasii), but may rarely refer to Eriodictyon californicum, which is more commonly known as yerba santa.

In parts of Central America yerba buena often refers to Eau de Cologne mint, a true mint sometimes called "bergamot mint" with a strong citrus-like aroma that is used medicinally and as a cooking herb and tea.

In Cuba, yerba buena generally refers to Mentha nemorosa, a popular plant also known as large apple mint, foxtail mint, hairy mint, woolly mint or, simply, Cuban mint.

In Puerto Rico a close relative of traditional culinary savory, Satureja viminea, is sometimes used.

References
  1. Typically, for stomach ailments, see the article on Mentha.
  2. "Peppermint oil". National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, US National Institutes of Health. 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
  3. Jamila, F.; Mostafa, E. (2014). "Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by people in Oriental Morocco to manage various ailments". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 154 (1): 76–87. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.016. PMID 24685583.
  4. "Clinopodium douglasii". Jepson eflora (The Jepson Herbarium). Retrieved March 9, 2016.

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