[Herb & Spice] Pennyworth Leaves

[Pepy]

I know this plant's name while I was still in school, learned from biology subject, one of the school subjects that I hate most. One time, I bought the Asian beverage in a can at Superstore, it was a pennyworth beverage. I wondered what pennyworth is and tasted like. Back home, I browsed through internet and found out pennyworth is what the Indonesians call pegagan.

From borneofocus.com, pennywort is native to the warmer regions; China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Western South Sea Islands, Australia, Madagascar, Southern and Middle Africa, Southern United States and in insular and continental tropical America, especially abundant in the swampy areas of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka up to an altitude of approximately 700 metres.


Other names
Peugaga (Aceh), Daun Kaki Kuda, Antanan (Sunda), Gagan-gagan, Rendeng (Java), Taidah (Bali), Sandanan (Irian), Mandukaparni, Gotu Kola (India), Di Chien Tsao, Man Tien Hsing and Zhi Xue Cao (China), Hoefbald and Paardevoet (Netherland).

According to this website, pennyworth is also remedy plant for:

* Anti-aging
* Anti-cancer
* Anti-cellulite
* Better blood circulation
* Wound healing Vitality
* Respiratory ailments
* Detoxificaton of the body
* Treatment of skin disorders (psoriasis and eczema...)
* Revitalizing connective tissue (cell repairing)
* Burn and scar treatment
* Clearing up skin infections
* Slimming and edema,
* Arthritis, rheumatism
* Treatment of liver and kidneys
* Strengthening of veins (varicose veins)
* Blood purification
* High blood pressure reduction
* Anti-stress
* Boostering immunity

I saw a recipe of Sambai On Peuga-ga on Kak D's multiply, at that time she didn't know what pegagan is in English and couldn't find either for purchased, so she made stimulated sambai on peuga-gan by substituting pennyworth for cilantro. Sambai On Peuga-ga itself can be translated as Acehnese Pennyworth Salad. As other dishes from Aceh, asam sunti (dried bilimbi) also takes a part in Sambai On Peuga-gan. Please see the recipe at http://indonesia-eats.blogspot.com/2007/11/vegan-venture-vegan-gelatin-and-sambai.html