Gotu Kola 50 grams: Centella asiatica, the Asiatic pennywort
Centella asiatica is a small creeping plant that is easy to walk straight past. It stays close to the ground and spreads by runners into a dense mat. The leaves are round to kidney shaped, a little like small shields, and during flowering it puts out modest white to pale pink blooms. The plant wants moisture and shade, which is why it turns up along riverbanks, in rice paddies and on marshy ground, mainly across tropical and subtropical Asia but also in parts of Africa and Oceania.
The name Gotu Kola comes from Sri Lanka. In China the herb is called fo ti tien, while in India it goes by names such as brahmi and mandukaparni. Ayurveda, Siddha medicine and traditional Chinese herbalism have all worked with Centella asiatica for centuries, which makes it one of the better known plants in those traditions. In several Asian kitchens the leaf is simply food: eaten fresh in salads, pressed into juice or stirred through a curry.
What you get and how it is usually prepared
This pack holds 50 grams of dried herb. The classic preparation is an infusion: pour hot water over a spoonful, let it steep for a few minutes and strain. Some people grind the herb into powder and stir that through yoghurt or a smoothie. Store the bag cool, dry and dark and keep it properly closed, and the aroma will hold up far longer. Gotu Kola is a herb and no substitute for anything else. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to your doctor or pharmacist first.
About the herbs at Avalon
At Avalon Magic Plants, Gotu Kola sits with the energy herbs. The same corner of the shop holds Acorus calamus (sweet flag), Sutherlandia frutescens and Voacanga africana root bark. If you prefer a liquid form, have a look at the 1:1 herbal tinctures in 10 ml bottles. Every order leaves our warehouse discreetly packed.
