Litsea cubeba

Litsea cubeba

　　Litsea cubeba

　　Litsea cubeba, scientifically known as Litsea cubeba, also called mountain pepper or may chang, belongs to the Lauraceae family and is a deciduous shrub or small tree. It has a spicy flavor with a distinctive aroma. It is often gathered as a seasoning, used to mellow spiciness, enhance fragrance, and mask off-flavors. Fresh litsea cubeba flowers and dried ones are best mixed into dipping sauces. Fresh litsea cubeba fruits can be directly added to dipping sauces, while dried fruits are commonly made into litsea cubeba oil for later use. When added to dipping sauces, litsea cubeba oil offers an excellent flavor. Litsea cubeba powder (i.e., the ground seeds of litsea cubeba) is also commonly used when making dipping sauces.