18 Most Exotic Herbs Around The World Balcony Garden Web

Herbs add a wonderful array of lip-smacking flavors and inviting fragrances to cuisines. For you to take the most advantage of them, we have compiled a list of the Most Exotic Herbs from different countries that’ll help you make your food a little more extraordinary and a little more healthy!

Check out our article on herbs every man should grow here

Some of the Most Exotic Herbs

1. Asafoetida

Botanical Name: Ferula assa-foetida

Flavor: Emits a pungent smell and tastes like nothing in this world

Native Place: Central Asia & Middle East

USDA Zones: 7-11

Asafoetida, also known as ‘Hing,’ is extracted from the ferula plant is essentially a gum, widely used in Iranian, Indian, Pakistani, and Afghani cuisines. A pinch of it can supercharge the flavor of any food in the pan like magic!

Fun Fact: It also lowers blood pressure and has medicinal uses in Ayurveda

2. Pineapple Sage

Botanical Name: Salvia elegans

Flavor: Leaves have a mixed aroma of pineapple and common sage

Native Place: Mexico and Guatemala

USDA Zones: 8-10

The herb offers a tangy taste with a distinct aroma that goes best in teas, desserts, and salads. The plant also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

3. Vietnamese Balm

Botanical Name: Elsholtzia ciliata

Flavor: Lemon-scented flavor with a hint of mint

Native Place: Asia

USDA Zones: 5-9

There’s no substitute for this exotic herb, thanks to its unique flavor and aroma. The tea made from its leaves has soothing effects. For culinary uses, it pairs well with meat dishes.

4. Shiso

Botanical Name: Perilla frutescens var. crispa

Flavor: Mixed flavor that includes the aroma of mint, citrus, basil, anise, and coriander

Native Place: China and India

USDA Zones: 9-11

Also known as purple perilla and beefsteak plant, its leaves are the main ingredient in sashimi, soups, and sushi. It can also be added to salads, green tea, and stir-fries.

Check out our article on growing shisho here

5. Wasabi

Botanical Name: Eutrema japonicum

Flavor: Has a pungent yet delicate flavor with a sweet underlying taste

Native Place: Japan

This perennial herb has thick heart-shaped upright leaves. All parts of wasabi are edible, and you can add it in cold soba, sushi, sashimi, udon noodles, and seafood.

Here is everything you need to know on growing wasabi in pots

6. Thai Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora

Flavor: Like licorice, anise, and cloves with a pleasing aroma of sweet basil

Native Place: Southeast Asia

USDA Zones: 4-11

Popular in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia–This ornamental herb has purple stems with veined leaves. It tastes best when used fresh in Thai curries, noodles, tea, and meat dishes.

7. Greek Oregano

Botanical Name: Origanum vulgare var. hirtum

Flavor: Sweet with a hint of bitterness

Native Place: Mediterranean

Also known as ‘Rigani,’ this ornamental plant has hairy dark green leaves with small white flowers. This exotic herb is a star ingredient in Greek salad, meat, and soups.

8. Culantro

Botanical Name: Eryngium foetidum

Flavor: Pungent smell and mildly bitter taste like cilantro but on a stronger side

Native Place: Mexico and South America

USDA Zones: 4-10

Mexican coriander or culantro has long serrated leaves with both culinary and medicinal uses. It is popular in Latin American, Southeast Asia, and Caribbean cooking.

Check out our article on Growing Culantro here

9. Fish Mint

Botanical Name: Houttuynia cordata

Flavor: Distinct fish flavor with roots having a strong cilantro taste

Native Place: Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan

USDA Zones: 3-8

As the name suggests, the leaves have a slightly tangy and fish flavor. It is mainly used fresh in salads, spring rolls, grilled meats, fishes, and other Asian dishes.

10. Pennywort

Botanical Name: Centella asiatica

Flavor: Fresh leaves have a strong, grassy aroma

Native Place: Wetlands in Asia

USDA Zones: 5-11

Pennywort is a relative of carrot and parsley. It has both culinary and medicinal uses, but it is mostly sold as juice. The leaves can be consumed raw, pickled, dried, or sauteed.

11. Rice Paddy Herb

Botanical Name: Limnophila aromatica

Flavor: Sharp citrus and cumin-like taste

USDA Zones: 6-10

Also known as finger grass, it is mostly used in Vietnamese cuisines, Thai curries, and soups. The herb is also a good replacement for cumin after the tender sprigs are chopped.

12. French Sorrel

Botanical Name: Rumex scutatus

Flavor: Has a mix of tarty and green apple taste

Native Place: Europe and Central Asia

USDA Zones: 3-9

Sorrel has arrow-shaped leaves on juicy stems. Its tangy, lemon-like sourness goes great with fish recipes, while you can also steam or saute its leaves like spinach.

13. Papalo

Botanical Name: Porpphyllum ruderale

Flavor: Sharp flavor, which is a blend of rue, cilantro, and arugula

Native Place: Mexico, Central, and South America

This green leafy herb has pungent, egg-shaped leaves that are used for seasoning. It is popular in Pueblan cooking, where leaves are used fresh in salsa, tacos, and sandwiches.

Here is everything you need to know about growing Papalo

14. Vicks Plant

Botanical Name: Plectranthus hadiensis var. tomentosa

Flavor: Mint and camphor-like fragrance

Native Place: Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar

USDA Zones: 9-12

Popular for camphor and mint-like fragrance, its fuzzy, velvety leaves can be steeped in boiling water to vaporize the oils that can be inhaled to clear nasal passages.

15. Mexican Mint

Botanical Name: Plectranthus amboinicus

Flavor: Pungent oregano-like aroma and taste

Native Place: Origin is unknown

Also known as Cuban oregano, its fresh leaves are served in meat and vegetarian cuisines, while dried leaves are often used in soups and stews.

16. Betel Leaf

Botanical Name: Piper betel

Flavor: Peppery taste on a slightly bitter side

Betel leaf has waxy green, heart-shaped leaves that are prized with medicinal and culinary properties.

Fun Fact: It is popular in countries like Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India for making mouth-freshener called Paan, which is served with areca nut, gulkand, and tobacco.

Check out our article on growing betel leaf plant here

17. Lemongrass

Botanical Name: Cymbopogon citratus

Flavor: Lemon-like tangy and refreshing taste

USDA Zones: 6-11

This exotic culinary herb emits a lemony scent and flavor. Dried or fresh tender stems are widely used in making herbal teas, soups, chicken, and seafood.

Here’s all the information on growing lemongrass

18. Vietnamese Coriander

Botanical Name: Persicaria odorata

Flavor: Like cilantro but spicier with a mix of strong mint and lemon flavor

Also known as Cambodian mint and Rau Ram, you can easily grow it an annual in any climate, in pots. It’s used in curries, soups, and noodle dishes.

Sabrina Finley
September 5, 2020 At 6:53 pm
Great article!
Reply

Great article!

Check out our article on herbs every man should grow here#

Some of the Most Exotic Herbs#

1. Asafoetida#

2. Pineapple Sage#

3. Vietnamese Balm#

4. Shiso#

Check out our article on growing shisho here#

5. Wasabi#

Here is everything you need to know on growing wasabi in pots#

6. Thai Basil#

7. Greek Oregano#

8. Culantro#

Check out our article on Growing Culantro here#

9. Fish Mint#

10. Pennywort#

11. Rice Paddy Herb#

12. French Sorrel#

13. Papalo#

Here is everything you need to know about growing Papalo#

14. Vicks Plant#

15. Mexican Mint#

16. Betel Leaf#

Check out our article on growing betel leaf plant here#

17. Lemongrass#

Here’s all the information on growing lemongrass #

18. Vietnamese Coriander#

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