SC - Re: Orach vs Spinach

[ChannonM at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/18/00 4:45:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Akim Yaroslavich 
writes:

> You have used spinach for orach, which is a related
>  but different potherb common in the Mediteranean
>  region then and now.  

snip<  But so do many other leafy potherbs, including
>  poke salat.   I am not sure that this substitution is valid
>  as Platina is using orach as a herb seasoner rather
>  than as a vegetable.  I think that boiling orach leeches out
>  a flavouring which spinach does not possess, much as
>  you would cook poke and other bitter greens in several 
>  waters to moderate their bitter taste.  I don't see Platina
>  regarding the herbal potency of spinach sufficiently high
>  to use it as he describes with orach.  I think orach embues 
>  a separate flavour.  I will have to check out raw orach if I 
>  can find it. I think it is too late to grow it this season myself.
>  
>  Akim Yaroslavich

This is a very valid point, I'll have to do more research. It might not be 
immediate as in the middle of replying to this post I found out my youngest 
son has the stomach flu :0

Hauviette