Prodigiosa: What the Herb Is and How It Is Prepared

By Suhail Rivera, JD, founder of Alkaline Herb Shop

Prodigiosa is one of the most bitter herbs sold in Mexican herb shops, and people usually meet the name before they meet the taste. This guide covers what the plant is, what it is called across different regions, how the tea is actually made, what it tastes like in plain terms, the difference between the powder and the capsules, and where the name comes from in the first place.

The plant

Prodigiosa is Brickellia grandiflora, a shrubby plant that grows across the highlands of central and northern Mexico and into parts of the southwestern United States. In some regions the name prodigiosa is also used for a closely related species, Brickellia cavanillesii, and both share the same bitter reputation and a similar rough, silvery green leaf. The part used is the leaf, dried and sold either loosely cut or milled into a fine powder.

Prodigiosa's other names

Prodigiosa never picked up a common English name, which is unusual for a plant this widely sold. You will see it written hierba prodigiosa, la prodigiosa, or simply planta prodigiosa, all pointing to the same herb. English speakers searching for it online almost always end up typing the Spanish word, because there is no equivalent term to reach for.

How prodigiosa tea is made

The powder and the cut leaf are prepared differently. For the powder, stir 1 teaspoon into 4 fl oz of freshly boiled water, mix well, cover, and let it stand for 2 to 3 minutes before drinking. There is nothing to strain, since the herb is already milled, and it settles quickly, so stir it again right before you drink. If you have the loose cut leaf instead, steep about a teaspoon in 8 fl oz of hot water, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes, then strain.

What does prodigiosa taste like?

Bitter, and it does not soften that with anything. This is one of the most bitter herbs we sell, closer to the bitterness of gentian or wormwood than to an ordinary cup of tea. Most people take it the way the name suggests it should be taken, as a small shot in a little water rather than a mug to be sipped slowly. If bitterness is the problem rather than the herb itself, that is worth knowing before you buy the powder.

Powder or capsules

The powder is the better buy per ounce, and it is what you want for the traditional shot or for a tincture, but you will taste every bit of the bitterness described above. The prodigiosa capsules are the same plant, measured into a vegetable capsule, for anyone who wants nothing to do with the flavor. Same herb, same country of origin, two very different experiences of taking it.

What prodigiosa is used for

Prodigiosa carries a long tradition in Mexican herbal practice, and that reputation is exactly why most people search for it by name. We are not going to build on that reputation here. A tradition tells you how a plant has been used, not what the plant does, and the research on prodigiosa in people is limited. So we will not tell you it lowers, regulates, balances or manages anything. We sell it as what it is: a bitter dried leaf, sold as a food, for making tea.

Where to get prodigiosa

We sell Prodigiosa Powder, 4 oz, one ingredient and nothing added. There is a full walkthrough of the method at a simple way to make prodigiosa tea. Keep it sealed and away from light, and remember it settles, so give it a stir before every cup.

Who should ask first

• Anyone pregnant or nursing should talk to a doctor before drinking prodigiosa.
• Anyone under 18 or managing a health condition should ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
• Anyone taking medication should check with a doctor or pharmacist before adding a new herbal tea to a regular routine, especially given how strong and bitter this one is.