Boldo — The Chilean After-Dinner Herb

Boldo — The Chilean After-Dinner Herb

Too much dinner? Too much wine? Too much enthusiasm?

In Chile, boldo (Peumus boldus) has long been the herb people reach for when the evening has gotten a little richer than planned. Intensely aromatic, bitter and unmistakably old-world, boldo has a traditional reputation as a digestive and after-dinner tonic — the botanical equivalent of loosening your belt and admitting you may have overdone it.

Its flavor is bold, herbal, slightly camphoraceous and very much not shy. This is not a delicate little tisane. Boldo belongs to the grand tradition of bitter herbs taken after heavy meals, indulgent nights and occasions when the digestive system deserves a little moral support.

Use the powder in traditional botanical preparations or blend sparingly with other bitter and aromatic herbs. A little goes a long way.

Sold by the ounce. Powdered boldo leaf.