Khmer Cooking Herbs

(Levisticum officinale), commonly called Lovage. It's commonly mistaken for celery. Here are some key features to differentiate the two. Levisticum officinale is a tall perennial plan and the sole species in the genus Levisticum in the family Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae. In the wild,  Lovage commonly found growing in sandy and/or gravel areas with organic matters, thrive in full sun or partial shade, and drought tolerant once fully developed. Whereas celery can be found growing in bogs, and marshlands, and is  a cool weather crop.  The Lovage stem is smaller and has a tubler form and hollow. Whereas celery is wilder, has a half-moon sheath-like shape and solid. Lovage leaves have a stronger taste than that of a celery, with an anise undertones. Celery grows to around 12 inches after 130 days of germination. Whereas Lovage grows to be about 6 feet tall and has a yellow flower heads

(Allium ursinum, commonly called ខ្ទឹមព្រៃ​ or ខ្ទឹមថ្ព្រៃ / Wild garlic, ramsons, wild cowleek, cowlic, buckrams, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear leek or bear's garlic, is a bulbous perennial flowering plant in the amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae.

Scarlett & Green Scallions, also known as Bunching Onions. Sometimes spring is missed label as Green onions. "Spring onion" is  an onion that is harvested at an early stage of its life.  Scallion is a type of onion that never form a true bulb.  A true Scallions are lacking true bulbs even at their matured stage. Scarlett Scallions  Evergreen Scallions 

គូឆាយ (Tulbaghia violacea) known as Society garlic,  Wild garlic. A flowering plant Amaryllidaceae family.  It's indigenous to southern Africa (KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Province), and naturalized in Tanzania and Mexico. It is one of only two known genera in the society garlic tribe within the onion subfamily. The genus was named for Ryk Tulbagh, once a governor of Cape province. And the other being (Tulbaghia simmleri). A pretty lilac color against the backdrop of green foliage makes an excellent groundcover in your landscape. Also makes an excellent substitute for Garlic chives for your culinary needs. 

(Allium schoenoprasum) commonly called Onion chives or Fine Leaf Chives have tubular fine leaves with mildly onion scent and taste, whereas leaves of a common chive resemble  that of a bunch onion. Fine Leaf Chives doesn't get tough with age. It it maintains its petite size and stay tender. It produces tiny bulbs. A tender perennial hardy in USDA zone 3 and above. I grow them in USDA zone 9a year-round with overhead protection in the rainy season. Leaves are smaller,  thinner, and more delicate than that of a Green/Bunching onions. 

(Allium tuberosum) known as Garlic/Chinese chives, Flat leaf chives is different from Garlic (A. Sativum). A year-round producer. Cut it down to the soil surface and watch it grow.   Garlic/Chinese chives typically grow taller than common chives and have flat leaves with white flowers. They have a potent garlic-like flavor and aromatic, unlike common onion chives. Chinese/Garlic Chives lacks true bulbs.  A year-round producer. Cut it down to the soil surface and watch it grow again and again.  A tender perennial. I grown in USDA zone 9a year-round with overhead protection in the rainy and winter season. It is cold hardy from USDA zone 3 and above.  Allium chinensis  (Chinese Garlic Chives or Rakkyo) There are three species of  Allium  that come to mind, under the name of Garlic Chives;  Allium ramosum, Allium chinensis  and, most commonly,  Allium tuberosum . On a trip to Guizhou, China in 2012, I noticed a number of Alliums being sold in the market looking like spring onions ( A. fist

ខ្ទឹមស/Garlic, (Allium sativum) leaflets are flat.  Though Garlic greens can be used in the same applications as A. Tuberosum but is quite different. .

   ខ្ទឹមក្រហម / Shallots  (Allium cepa).

ខ្ញី or Ginger.

រមៀត, Tumeric.

ខ្ជាយ  (Boesenbergia Rotunda), also known as K'Chai, Krachai, Finger Root. It is one of the "holy trinity" spice in Khmer cooking. A native to Cambodia.  A perennial in a tropical and subtropical climate. It's frosted sensitive.  It can be winterize indoor where temperature drop be below 30 ° F. Keep soil dry during the dormant period, and bring it outdoor after the last frost. Suitable for container plantings. I sowed rhizome 1 "deep and exposed eyelet if it has them in well drained soil and water generously. Or without eyelets sowed 2-3" deep with a slightly dampened soil and let it be.   Love moist environment during growth season. Hot dry heat will burn foliage.

រំដេង or Galanga (Alpinia galanga). May 25th, 24

Both varieties shares a  common name "Lemongrass". C. citratus is commonly used in Khmer cooking and other Southeast. Asians culture. ស្លឹកគ្រៃបាយ, Citronella (Cymbopogon citratus) lemongrass is white/green base variety. Use for culinary.  ស្លឹកគ្រៃក្រហម .  Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) is Redish base variety. More for medicinal uses. 

A Khmer culinary herb,    ជីប្រហើរ / ជីលីងល័ក្ខ (Ocimum citriodorum). A native to Cambodia.  A perennial in a tropical and subtropical climate. Cold and frost sensitive.  Need well drained soil. Very sensitive to waterlogged soil. Suitable for container or in-grounds planting. Thrive in hot and humid conditions.  Full sun or partially shade. គ្រាប់ជី/seeds

(Ocimum basilicum) commonly called Lettuce-leaf basil. Has large crinkled leaves. It's a pettit and bushy plant. Scented like a crossed between Lemon and Kapoor basil. Light green stems and leave White white flowers born out of a long spikes. 

(Ocimum basilicum) commonly called ជីរ​នាង​វង / ជីរ​ក្រហម / Thai basil, Ocimum Marua. 

(Ocimum gratissimum) commonly called ម្រះព្រៅធំ/ម្រះព្រៅដើម, Vana, Clove Basil, African Tree basil, is a better cold-hardy variety of Holy basil. Seeded itself in April in USDA zone 9a. Vana, is a wild variety grows wild in an undisturbed areas. It has large green leaves and stem, with white blossoms, and it can easily reach 5 feet tall.  Vana tulsi can overwinter indoors in a sunny window and warmth.

ម្រះព្រៅ, Kapoor Tulsi, (Ocimum sanctum/ Ocimum tenuiflorum).  In my experience,  Kapoor Tulsi grows low and bushy.  Leaves and stems are bright green, thick, ovate, and  toothed; with lilac flowers.