Pennyroyal

Mentha pulegium, a low-growing member of the mint family with a strong spearmint aroma when crushed. The oil is poisonous, but the leaves were used as an herb flavoring by the Romans and in Europe until several centuries ago. The mint-like herb that I encountered in Kengtung, which was called pak du’ean, seemed to me to be a kind of pennyroyal. I was told it was good for sore throats, and usually used by the Tai Koen to flavor pork dishes.