Marie,

Though I haven't seen tepin leaves called for specifically, I have seen hot pepper leaves called for in some SE Asian recipes, mostly Vietnamese. I have sampled the leaves of all species and many varieties of peppers I have grown, and not found anything exceptionally aromatic about them that would make me want to use it as an herb. This led me to think that maybe it was a medicinal thing they used it for, as many things are used for in their cooking? Some regions of Mexico also use many herbs in a similar way, and I see many items in Mexican groceries that are labeled as such, so maybe they also use it this way. I have never seen it in Mexican recipes.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Hmmm, very interesting thought. I believe you may be correct, which explains why I found nothing on the internet, but then again, I have never found anything on the internet to be authentic Mexican cooking or other. I used to belong to an email list called Chile Peppers, which I believe is now long gone. I doubt any of them would have known because their style of cooking with peppers are and were very Americanized, as you won't find authentic Mexican people using the sauces you find for sale on the internet with the funny names on them...sooo, I will probably have to ask my dad what they are used for. I never thought of asking when he gave them to me, considering I used to use certain herbs in the garden to cure the flu.

Marie

Let us know when you find out. I know that I'm curious now too.