Epazote Delivery or Pickup

Epazote is often added to beans to help reduce flatulence caused by certain compounds in beans that can cause gastric distress. Epazote contains a 70% concentration of ascaridole, which helps to deter intestinal gas. The scent and taste of epazote vary among people. Some say it has a lemony scent and flavor; others say it has a peppery and herby taste similar to arugula. And others get a strong gasoline or creosote scent and flavor. Epazote is an herb you'll want to try for yourself to see if you like it.

Epazote (pronounced eh-pah-ZOH-teh), sometimes called Mexican Tea, is an aromatic perennial herb used in Mexican and Central American cooking. People who live in the Mexican state of Oaxaca and along the Yucatan Peninsula of Southern Mexico use epazote for everyday cooking. Epazote has a strong, pungent aroma and flavor and may take some time to become accustomed to. The flavor profile of epazote has notes of anise, citrus, mint, and even a bit of creosote.

Epazote is classified as Dysphania Ambrosioides, and is in the Amaranthaceae family. Epazote can grow up to three feet tall and has long, pointy leaves. Flowers bloom along the apex of the stem, and the seeds ripen in the fall. Cultivators of epazote harvest the leaves and stem and send them to the market in fresh form.

Due to its strong scent and terpene compounds (the same compounds found in creosote), epazote makes a good companion plant in the garden. The terpene can mask the scent of nearby plants to keep harmful insects away.  Epazote grows year-round in temperate climates and can often yield multiple harvests. Both the pointy leaves and stem of the epazote plant are consumed for cooking or as a medicinal tea.

When you want fresh or dried epazote for your next Mexican-inspired meal, save time and make your day a bit easier when you order epazote through Instacart. You can browse the website and see which stores nearby carry epazote and that use Instacart delivery. Once you place your order, an Instacart shopper will deliver your item to you. You can also download the Instacart app to your smartphone, shop for epazote, and the shopper will deliver it to you on the same day!

You can generally find fresh epazote at your local Mexican grocery store or at the farmers market. For fresh epazote, which most chefs recommend using, look for small, tender, bright-green leaves. The leaves should stand upright without looking wilted. If you're buying the dried form of epazote, look for dried leaves that aren't crumbled and look for bags of epazote with minimal amounts of dried stems.

Once you have your fresh epazote delivered to you by your Instacart shopper, you can keep the herb fresh by placing the stems in a glass of water inside of the refrigerator. You can also wrap the stems with a wet paper towel, place them in a plastic bag, and keep them in the refrigerator's crisper drawer. Fresh epazote will keep for about five days. Place fresh epazote leaves in an ice cube tray filled with water, freeze them, and then store the frozen epazote cubes in a plastic bag in the freezer for future use.

Store dried epazote inside of a jar in a cool, dark place. When properly cared for, dried epazote can last for up to a year.