Mexican tarragon extract | Tagetes lucida | 10x - 1 g

Mexican tarragon extract 10x offers a highly concentrated preparation from Tagetes lucida, an aromatic herb with deep roots in the ceremonial and culinary traditions of Mexico and Central America. Known to the Aztecs as yauhtli, this member of the Asteraceae family has been used in ritual, as an offering to deities, and as a flavouring herb for millennia. Its distinctive anise-like fragrance sets it apart from most other members of the marigold genus. Each 1 g package is hermetically sealed.

About Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida)

Tagetes lucida belongs to the daisy family Asteraceae, the same genus as common marigold. It is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the highland regions of Mexico, Guatemala, and Central America, particularly the Sierra Madre ranges. The plant grows 40–80 cm tall, with lance-shaped, aromatic leaves and small clusters of yellow-orange flowers. It has been cultivated as both a culinary and a ritual herb for thousands of years and is still grown widely throughout Mexico today, where it is sometimes referred to as pericón or hierba anís.

Traditional and cultural use

The Aztecs called Tagetes lucida yauhtli and assigned it sacred status as an offering to Tlaloc, the rain deity. It was burned as incense in temples and during agricultural ceremonies to propitiate the gods and ensure fertile harvests. Aztec priests also prepared ritual beverages incorporating the herb, consumed before and during ceremonial events. Beyond its sacred role, the plant was used as a culinary seasoning across Mesoamerica, particularly as a substitute for European tarragon in cooking, from which its common English name derives. In contemporary folk herbalism across Mexico and Guatemala, Mexican tarragon is still brewed as a tea and used as a flavouring for the traditional festival drink atole during the Day of the Dead celebrations.

Active compounds

• Methyl chavicol (estragole) — the primary aromatic constituent responsible for the anise-like scent
• Quercetin and patuletin — flavonoids characteristic of Tagetes species
• Coumarin — a naturally occurring aromatic compound found in the leaves
• Essential oils including beta-ocimene and linalool

Extraction and potency

A 10x ratio indicates that 10 g of dried Mexican tarragon herb has been concentrated into 1 g of extract. Water and ethanol extraction captures the full range of the plant's soluble aromatic and botanical constituents, which are dried and milled to a fine, fragrant powder. This provides a much more concentrated botanical profile than the raw or shredded herb.

How to use

As a herbal tea:

• Dissolve 0.5–1 g of extract in 250 ml of hot water.
• Steep for 5–10 minutes and sweeten with honey if desired.
• The extract may also be added as a seasoning to soups, sauces, or other dishes to impart its distinctive anise-like flavour.

For ritual or aromatic use, a small quantity can be placed on a heat-proof surface as incense, in keeping with Aztec tradition.

Pack size

This package contains 1 g of Mexican tarragon extract 10x (Tagetes lucida), sealed in airtight packaging.

Storage and safety

Store in a cool, dry, dark place away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep out of reach of children. Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Contains naturally occurring coumarin; do not consume in very large quantities over extended periods. This product is not a medicine and is not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet.