Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's Herb guide to Pennyroyal along with all the Pennyroyal containing recipes presented on this site, with 16 recipes in total.

e This is a continuation of an entire series of pages that will, I hope, allow my visitors to better navigate this site. As well as displaying recipes by name, country and region of origin I am now planning a whole series of pages where recipes can be located by meal type and main ingredient. This page gives a listing of all the Cornish recipes added to this site.

These recipes, all contain Pennyroyal as a major herb flavouring.

Pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium (also known as Squaw Mint, Mosquito Plant, and Pudding Grass) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Indeed, it looks superficially very like common mint (spearmint), though the leaves are smaller and the blue to purple inflorescences tend to be larger. Pennyroyal is a traditional culinary herb and features in many Roman, Medieval and Elizabethan recipes. It is also a traditional folk remedy and abortifacient.

Though commonly used in Roman and Ancient Greek cookery it is now known that pennyroyal includes many toxic compounds and a very strong abortifacient (compound that promotes abortion). However, pennyroyal tea is still used to promote mild increases in menstrual flow this herb should be treated with extreme caution. Never serve it to a pregnant woman and only consume in small amounts. It is probably best to substitute this herb with lesser calamint in any ancient recipe that calls for its use.

When the leaves of pennyroyal are crushed they release a strong spearmint-like aroma. The essential oil contains menthol, menthone, menthyl esters (as in spearmint) though the oil also contains pulegone, a highly toxic volatile organic compound affecting liver and uterine function. Pennyroyal oil, though widely used in aromatherapy is very toxic and should never be consumed. Pennyroyal tea is still brewed as an infusion of the herb. This infusion is widely reputed to be safe to ingest in small quantities and is employed and reportedly successful as an emmenagogue (menstrual flow stimulant) or as an abortifacient. Pennyroyal is also used to settle an upset stomach and to relieve flatulence.

Though I do grow pennyroyal, and I do use it when re-constructing ancient Roman and Medieval recipes, I would recommend treating this herb with extreme caution and would recommend substituting with lesser calamint (which has an almost identical flavour profile) in any recipe calling for its use.