Puerto Rican Culantro, Racao, Eryngium foetidum Puerto Rican Culantro is a biennial herb indigenous to continental Tropical America and the West Indies. It is a distant cousin of cilantro, yet more potent in flavor, aroma and medicinal value. One leaf of Culantro is equivalent to an entire bundle of cilantro. Culantro is a low-lying plant with spiny, broad leaves that enjoys part shade and tropical environments. Though mostly used in culinary dishes, Puerto Rican Culantro is highly medicinal. Culantro is a heavy metal chelator, meaning that it binds to heavy metals in the body and helps eliminate them. While gently detoxing the body of heavy metals and free radicals, Culantro replenishes the body with nutrients, making it a balanced herb for vitality. It has a specific action on the digestive system, which points to its traditional culinary use. It stimulates the appetite, calms indigestion and imparts an exotic flavor and fragrance to any tea or dish.
