Orejuela (ear flower)

Cymbopetalum penduliflorum

spice · flower

Thick ear-shaped petals, dried and ground, which gave the Aztecs' drinking chocolate a peppery note.

Origin

Southern Mexico and Guatemala

Where to find it

In the rainforests of Veracruz, Oaxaca and Guatemala.

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

A pinch of ground petals is stirred into hot chocolate; they are drunk with it.

Did you know?

Its Nahuatl name, xochinacaztli, means “ear flower”.