Organic Pericón

$12.00

In stock

Description

Each package of our organic Pericón is approximately 100 grams. Due to the bulky nature of this dye, it’s a little difficult to measure. You will receive at least 100 grams of the product.

Pericón (Tagetes lucida), also known as Mexican tarragon or mint marigold is a traditional plant native to Mexico and Central America. Pericón is a perennial. People use it medicinally, in cooking, and as a dye. Pericón is part of the traditional dye plant palette of the Zapotec people in Oaxaca, Mexico. Our friend, Porfirio Gutierrez, is profiled in this 2017 New York Times article on natural dyes and indigenous practices in Oaxaca, and there’s a lovely photo of him carrying loads of fresh pericón on his back.

We are fortunate to receive our dried organic Pericón from an organically certified cooperative in Texas. This batch is bundled and roughly chopped, so break it into smaller pieces to simmer it and extract the color. Right now, we wrap the pericón in brown kraft paper until we find suitable packaging.

Its color yield is a light to deep gold and the plant is strongly aromatic of anise. You can use the entire plant in dyeing, fresh or dried. For instructions, please see our how to page.

Please note: We are unable to ship this product internationally.

From Turkey Red Journal:

Pericón translates as “wild marigold.” It is a popular source of yellow dye in Mexico. Pericón produces a range of colors, from light, buttery yellow to deep, brownish gold, depending on the fiber and the ratio of dye material to fiber. The entire plant–flowers, leaves, and stems–is traditionally used.

Also called Mexican Mint Marigold, Pericón is an easy to grow perennial with many uses. It is an ancient culinary, medicinal, and ceremonial herb, as well as being a beneficial plant to have in the garden. The leaves have a strong anise or licorice flavor and are a good substitute for tarragon. The Aztecs used it to flavor cacao. Pericón tea is a remedy in Latin America for a wide variety of ailments including gastrointestinal issues, depression and anxiety, and the common cold. It has a rich history as a sacred herb known for its protective and cleansing properties as well as its ability to stimulate visions. The bright golden flowers that appear in the fall have ornamental value and attract pollinators. Tagetes lucida, like other marigolds, is a good companion plant as it repels unwanted nematodes and insects. Cut back in the winter to return again in the spring.

Additional information

Weight 130 g
Dimensions 8 × 5 × 3 in

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