Tarragon dan Manfaatnya

Catt : Artikel ini adalah terjemahan bebas dari artikel tentang Tarragon pada artikel sebelumnya, mengingat sedikit sekali ulasan tentang Tarragon yang berbahasa Indonesia. 

 Nama Latin: Atremisia Dracunculus.

Alternatif nama: Prancis: Tarragon, English: Tarragon, Jerman : Tarragon, Rusia : Tarragon, Dragon Mugwort, Estragon, Naga Kecil.

Ketersediaan: akar kering, bubuk, minyak, teh, rebusan

Nama Tarragon, terasa asing ketika orang Indonesia mendengarnya, namun tahukah anda bahwa ternyata tanaman ini adalah rempah-rempah yang termasuk dalam daftar "kudu" dalam masakan ala benua Eropa/Mediterranean cuisine sebagai Continental Spice. Tarragon juga merupakan herbal aromatik yang dianggap sebagai salah satu dari empat bahan bumbu terbaik di masakan Perancis tradisional, selain Daun Huni-Chervil (French Parsley - Chervil  coulis - Anthriscus cerefolium) , Bawang Putih (Regular Chives) dan Peterseli (Parsley - Carum Roxburghianum Benth)

Tanaman asal Eropa Selatan ini dapat digunakan dalam bentuk segar maupun kering. Aroma khasnya dapat meningkatkan citarasa semua jenis hidangan, mulai dari seafood hingga olahan telur. Ya, olahan panggang, unggas, seafood dan telur terasa pas jika ditambahkan bumbu Tarragon. Sebagian orang menambahkan cincangan Tarragon ke dalam saus Mayonnaise atau Bearnaise, dan hasilnya saus menjadi lebih istimewa rasanya.  [blognya Budiboga]

Tarragon herbal (Artemisia Dracunculus) tidak hanya menambah rasa lezat untuk makanan kita, tetapi juga memberikan manfaat obat ketika ditambahkan ke makanan. Riwayat penggunaan Tarragon sebagai obat diantaranya adalah ketika orang Yunani kuno mengunyah daun Tarragon untuk mengobati sakit giginya.

Tanaman Tarragon akan tumbuh baik di daerah tropis dengan sinar matahari penuh walaupun dapat mentolerir tempat teduh parsial juga. Tanaman ini lebih menyukai kondisi pertumbuhan kering tanpa penyiraman yang berlebihan. Tanaman ini berhenti tumbuh di musim dingin dan lebih memilih tanah ringan didukung oleh sistem drainase yang tepat.
  
Tarragon mengandung tannin, cineol, coumarin, flavonoid, ocimene, estragole, minyak volatile dan ocimene.Sifat terapeutik dari ramuan ini adalah deodoran, vermifuge, pencernaan, stimulan, beralkohol, emenagogue dan anti-rematik. Tarragon juga merupakan sumber yang kaya vitamin seperti vitamin C, vitamin B-kompleks (riboflavin, piridoksin, folat, niasin), dan vitamin-A.(lihat tabel Nutirious Food dibawah.)

Rasa Tarragon yang khas menyegarkann dan memiliki sifat yang sangat mirip seperti Adas,getir dan manis, telah menyebabkan banyak orang untuk mempelajari manfaat Tarragon yang menenangkan dan yang sarat dengan manfaat kesehatan lainnya seperti detoksifikasi. Tarragon juga membantu dalam menghilangkan racun yang cenderung  tinggal pada sendi dan anggota tubuh lainnya, juga mencegah masalah penuaan dini pada wanita.

Manfaat kesehatan lain dari  minum empat cangkir teh Tarragon  sehari secara teratur dapat mencegah adhesi platelet dan agregasi yaitu proses pembekuan (agregasi) platelet di dalam darah (thrombosis). Tarragon juga merupakan perangsang nafsu makan yang baik dan dapat digunakan untuk mengobati sakit perut. Selain anti-oksidan, vitamin dan mineral yang tinggi, Tarragon juga memiliki zat berharga yang bernama phyto-nutrisi (Phytokimia), yaitu zat yang bertindak sebagai system kekebalan alami tumbuhan, (biasanya ada pada kulit buah-buahan seperti apel dan pear) dan ini berefek juga bagi kesehatan manusia. Karena kaya akan Phyto-nutrient dan antioksidan maka Tarragon dapat menenangkan rasa sakit menstruasi, sakit perut, kelelahan mental, mual dan muntah. Tanaman ini memiliki kapasitas untuk menyembuhkan nyeri lutut dan nyeri otot pada wanita usia lanjut. 

Seperti disebut diatas, Tarragon digunakan sebagai obat yang efektif untuk sakit gigi sejak zaman Yunani kuno dulu. Minyak yang diekstrak dari ramuan ini juga meningkatkan sirkulasi darah dalam tubuh, yang membantu berlimpahnya pasokan oksigen, nutrisi, hormon dan enzim lainnya untuk seluruh bagian tubuh. Ini juga membantu dalam hal distribusi jumlah oksigen yang tepat , hormon, nutrisi dan enzim ke seluruh jaringan tubuh. Meminum minyak ini akan mengurangi satu dari sekian banyak gejala sakit gigi dan cegukan. Tarragon juga berguna untuk pencernaan dan membantu memerangi gejala-gejala gangguan pada sistem pencernaan lamban. Hal ini sangat penting untuk mendorong produksi empedu oleh hati dan membantu berfungsinya sistem kerja pencernaan. Minyak Esensial Tarragon juga merangsang nafsu makan dan mendukung berfungsinya organ-organ tubuh lainnya.


Tarragon herb (Artemisia dracunculus), dried,
Nutritional value per 100 g.
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	295 Kcal	15%
Carbohydrates	50.22 g	38%
Protein	22.77 g	40%
Total Fat	7.24 g	24%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	7.4 g	19%
Vitamins
Folates	274 mcg	68.5%
Niacin	8.950 mg	56%
Pyridoxine	2.410 mg	185%
Riboflavin	1.339 mg	103%
Thiamin	0.251 mg	21%
Vitamin A	4200 IU	140%
Vitamin C	50.0 mg	83%
Electrolytes
Sodium	62 mg	4%
Potassium	3020 mg	64%
Minerals
Calcium	1139 mg	114%
Copper	0.677 mg	75%
Iron	32.30mg	403%
Magnesium	347 mg	87%
Manganese	7.967 mg	346%
Zinc	3.90 mg	35%

Nah, ternyata rempah-rempahan seperti Tarragon selain menyedapkan untuk masakan, juga menyehatkan ya? Bagaimana menurut anda?

http://budiboga.blogspot.com/2006/05/mengenal-jenis-dan-kegunaan-bumbu.html
Http://www.theherbdepot.com/id/standard/tarragon_tarragon_2043.html
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/tarragon-herb.html

Taragon, Non-Flowering "Little Dragon" Herb, And Its Nutritious Contains

Tarragon herb or dragon wort, non-flowering herb, famous as one of the French fines herbs blend, along with Chervil, Parsley and Thyme, is very popular culinary herb used as flavoring agent in Europe, especially in the Mediterranean cuisines. It has a wonderful fragrance, and is a very easy disease free grower. Tarragon has a sort of liquorice flavour, that is particularly good with fish, but can also be added in small amounts to fresh salads. It is the secret ingredient in Remoulade, Tartar, Bernaise Sauces and French Dressing. Add Tarragon during that last 15 minutes of cooking time, as it can turn bitter when cooked too long.

Tarragon is a very fine leaf that doesn't lend itself to drying. To preserve Tarragon through the winter, place sprigs in a small plastic snack bag, press out the air and freeze, (make sure you label), and you will have that lovely deep green fragrant herb throughout the cold season.

Tarragon isn't an especially medicinal herb, it is a pleasant after dinner digestive tea with a little honey and lemon. However, it does make a fantastic vinegar to splash on steamed veggies, or add a bit of zip to gravies and soups.

Russian tarragon (A. dracunculoides) is a more robust closely related species which is, however, quite inferior in flavor and hence less preferred in cooking.

This herb is small shrub featuring slim woody branching stems that reach up to a meter in height. Grows well in rich sandy soil with adequate sunlight. Its leaves are smooth, dark green with pointed ends.

Health benefits of Tarragon herb

• This exquisite herb is rich in numerous health benefiting phyto-nutrients that are indispensable for optimum health.
• The main essential oils in tarragon are estragole (methyl chavicol), cineol, ocimene and phellandrene.
• Tarragon has been used in traditional medicines for stimulating the appetite and as a remedy for anorexia symptoms.
• Scientific studies suggest that poly-phenolic compounds in this herb help lower blood glucose levels.
• Laboratory studies on tarragon extract shows certain compounds in them inhibit platelet activation, preventing platelet aggregation and adhesion to blood vessel wall.  Thus helps prevent clot formation inside narrow blood vessels of heart and brain protecting from heart attack and stroke.
• The herb is very rich source of vitamins such as vitamin-C, vitamin-A as well as B-complex group of vitamins such as folates, pyridoxine, niacin, riboflavin, etc that function as anti-oxidant as well as co-factors in metabolism.
• Tarragon is notably excellent source of minerals like calcium, manganese, iron, magnesium, copper, potassium and zinc.

 

Medicinal uses of tarragon

• Tarragon herb has been used in traditional medicines for stimulating the appetite and as a remedy for anorexia, dyspepsia, flatulence and hiccups.
• The essential oil, eugenol in the herb has been in therapeutic use in dentistry as a local anesthetic and antiseptic for toothache complaints.
• Tarragon tea is used to cure insomnia.

See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients: Tarragon herb (Artemisia dracunculus), dried, Nutritional value per 100 g. (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	295 Kcal	15%
Carbohydrates	50.22 g	38%
Protein	22.77 g	40%
Total Fat	7.24 g	24%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	7.4 g	19%
Vitamins
Folates	274 mcg	68.5%
Niacin	8.950 mg	56%
Pyridoxine	2.410 mg	185%
Riboflavin	1.339 mg	103%
Thiamin	0.251 mg	21%
Vitamin A	4200 IU	140%
Vitamin C	50.0 mg	83%
Electrolytes
Sodium	62 mg	4%
Potassium	3020 mg	64%
Minerals
Calcium	1139 mg	114%
Copper	0.677 mg	75%
Iron	32.30mg	403%
Magnesium	347 mg	87%
Manganese	7.967 mg	346%
Zinc	3.90 mg	35%

Selection and storage

Tarragon leaves are available fresh during late spring and summer season. Growing tips gathered for fresh use. Oftentimes, the herb is grown in the backyard and fresh leaves are readily available for cooking. Leaves may be harvested at flowering time for drying slowly in gentle heat. Dried tarragon can be available in the herb stores year around.

Try to by buy fresh leaves whenever possible for better flavor and nutritional benefits. Look for the herb that is rich in fragrance. Avoid those with shriveled, discolored old stocks.

Once at home, wash the leaves in clean running water, pat dry with absorbent paper and store in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for use in near future.  Dried tarragon should be placed inside airtight container and stored in cool dark place where it will stay for up to six months.

Preparation and serving methods

Fresh tarragon herb should be washed before use in cooking. In general the herb is added in small amounts to recipes at the last moment in order to retain flavor and taste.

Culinary uses

Generally the herb is added at the last moment to recipes in small amounts in order to retain flavor and taste.

Here are some serving tips:

• Fresh tarragon is used in green salad.
• Its leaves used as flavoring base to fish, lamb and poultry. 
• Tarragon herb is one of the main ingredients in French béarnaise sauce, a hot emulsified butter sauce made of clarified butter, egg yolks, shallot, chervil, peppercorn and tarragon vinegar.
• Also used as flavoring base in traditional Christmas breads called potica.

-Tarragon vinegar -

To make Tarragon vinegar, fill a widemouthed bottle with the freshly-gathered leaves, picked just before the herb flowers, on a dry day. Pick the leaves off the stalks and dry a little before the fire. Then place in a jar, cover with vinegar, allow to stand some hours, then strain through a flannel jelly bag and cork down in the bottles. The best white vinegar should be used.

Safety profile

• Tarragon essential oil, estragole, may cause skin irritation in some individuals.

• In addition, according to the "European commission scientific committee on food" estragole and its metabolite 1'-hydroxyestragole may induce hepatic tumor in laboratory animal. Therefore reductions in tarragon exposure and restrictions in use levels are thus recommended. (Medical disclaimer)

Summary Health Benefit: Diuretic, einmenagogue, hypnotic, stomachic. In Popular use tarragon serves to relieve digestive problems and catarrhal difficulties, as a diuretic to stimulate the action of the kidneys, and as an emmenagogue to promote the onset of menstruation. The tea stimulates the appetite, especially when it has been lost because of illness. Taking the tea before going to bed helps to overcome insomnia.

Read more: 
http://kawarthaherbs.blogspot.com/2011/06/forgotten-herbs-ii-tarragon.html#ixzz1fOGC0oM7,  http://www.herbies-herbs.com/pages/herbuses-6.html,   http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail291.php