and these are sometimes augmented with the
addition of various essential oils (vanilla,
cinnamon, clove, rose, and others). Tobacco
leaves contain astringent tannins and bitter
nicotine, so they are usually infused only
lightly into sauces, syrups, and creams.
Sometimes whole leaves are used as a
disposable wrapper to flavor a food during
cooking.
Water Pepper Water pepper is a relative of
rau ram, or Vietnamese coriander. Polygonum
hydropiper is a widespread native of wet areas
in the Northern Hemisphere. Its leaves have
been used as a pepper substitute in Europe,
and are now used mainly in Japan to provide a
peppery, somewhat numbing pungency (from
polygodial). Water pepper also has woody,
pine, and eucalyptus notes.
Wintergreen Wintergreen is the leaf of
Gaultheria procumbens or fragrantissima, a
North American bush in the blueberry and