Exotic Herbs Worth Discovering:
A Tropical Journey for Our Simples & Worts Community
As herbalists rooted in the traditions of simples and worts, our curiosity often leads us beyond our native gardens—toward plants used for centuries by cultures across the tropics. Some herbs, like Kava Kava or Vanilla, have begun to appear in modern herbal markets, while others remain largely unfamiliar, cloaked in regional mystery and cultural nuance.
In this article, we shine a spotlight on several of these extraordinary herbs—grown in the warm, humid climates of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the South Pacific, and tropical America. Their uses span the ceremonial to the culinary, the medicinal to the social. Our aim? To learn, appreciate, and grow our herbal wisdom as a community.
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)
Native to: Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea
Used for: Relaxation, social connection, ritual calm
Preparation: Dried and powdered root, steeped or macerated in cold water
The root of the Kava Kava plant has long been part of ceremonial life in Pacific Island cultures. Consumed as a non-alcoholic beverage, Kava promotes a calm, slightly euphoric state—reducing anxiety and tension without impairing alertness.
Its growing popularity in herbal circles has prompted increased attention to its traditional roots and the importance of responsible use. Kava is deeply respected in the regions where it originates, often used in formal gatherings, negotiations, and rituals of peace.
Betel Nut (Areca catechu)
Native to: South and Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea
Used for: Mental stimulation, social bonding
Preparation: Chewed with lime (calcium hydroxide) and betel leaf
Betel nut chewing is a widespread social custom in Papua New Guinea and many parts of Asia. The practice—often involving the betel leaf and slaked lime—produces a mildly stimulating effect and a deep red stain on the mouth and lips.
From an herbalist’s perspective, betel nut raises questions about tradition, pharmacology, and long-term wellness. Its stimulant properties are well known, but so are its risks when used habitually. Still, understanding its cultural role helps us appreciate the plant's place in tropical herbal practices.
Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)
Native to: Mesoamerica, now grown in Madagascar, Tahiti, and Papua New Guinea
Used for: Culinary delight, aromatic healing, gentle uplift
Preparation: Dried, fermented bean pod (vanilla bean), or extract
Most of us know vanilla as a beloved dessert flavoring, but its history is rich and complex. The vanilla orchid was sacred to the Totonac people of Mexico, later cultivated by the Aztecs and brought to Europe via Spanish explorers.
Vanilla cultivation is labor-intensive and relies on a deep understanding of botany and timing. It's more than a sweet fragrance—it's an herbal wonder whose aromatic oils have been used in love potions, calming blends, and celebratory drinks across cultures.
📌 See sidebar below: The curious pollination secret of the vanilla orchid.
Galangal (Alpinia galanga)
Native to: Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea
Used for: Digestive support, inflammation relief, culinary enhancement
Preparation: Rhizome, used fresh or dried
Galangal may look like ginger, but its flavor is sharper and more citrus-forward. In tropical herbal medicine, galangal is used to treat nausea, colds, and sluggish digestion. It’s also a key ingredient in many traditional dishes of Southeast Asia and Oceania, making it both a healing herb and a flavor builder.
Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
Native to: Amazon rainforest
Used for: Inflammatory conditions, immune modulation
Preparation: Bark decoction, tincture, or capsule
Cat’s Claw is a climbing vine found in the upper Amazon and is known for its curved, claw-like thorns. Traditionally used by indigenous tribes in Peru, it has gained attention in the West as a possible herbal ally for joint health, inflammation, and immune support. It’s a reminder of how rainforest plants continue to shape herbal medicine today.
Why Study Tropical Herbs?
Even as we focus on native and temperate-zone herbs, learning about tropical botanicals offers valuable insight:
Cultural perspective: Understanding how plants are used across the globe deepens our respect for indigenous knowledge.
Botanical curiosity: Many tropical herbs function differently than their temperate counterparts, offering new therapeutic models.
Inspiration for future cultivation: Some of these plants, while challenging to grow outside the tropics, are still possible to explore indoors or in controlled environments.
This isn’t a call to action or a push toward product use. Instead, it's a recognition of the depth and diversity of global herbal wisdom—and how much we can learn from it as students and stewards of the earth’s medicine chest.
Sidebar: The Vanilla Orchid’s Secret Lover
Did you know that the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) must be pollinated by hand outside of its native home in Mesoamerica?
In the wild, only a single species of Melipona bee, native to Mexico, is capable of naturally pollinating the flower. These tiny stingless bees are uniquely suited to navigate the flower’s complex structure.
Because vanilla cultivation spread to Madagascar, Tahiti, and Papua New Guinea—where the Melipona bee doesn’t exist—hand pollination has become the norm. Each delicate flower must be pollinated by hand within 12 hours of blooming, or it will close and never produce a pod. This labor-intensive process is one reason why real vanilla is one of the most expensive spices in the world.
Would you like to suggest an exotic herb for a future spotlight? Join our Simples & Worts conversation circle and help us uncover the stories and secrets of the world’s most fascinating plants.
Until next time...
I am...
Phil Wilson...
And, here’s to living an Herbal Lifestyle With You!