This weekend Copia introduces a new series exploring the world of herbs with Stephanie Georgieff, an herbalist, acupuncturist and naturopath, leading a class on the exotic world of Asian herbs.

Using the Asian garden at the Copia Edible Gardens as a starting point, Georgieff will focus on folklore and tradition as well modern science, to examine the ways Asian herbs have enhanced American cuisine and culture.

 “The Asian Kitchen has influenced deeply the cuisine of California, through many of the immigrants to our shores,” Georgieff said. “We will be exploring Indian herbs and traditional Chinese herbs. In the culinary traditions of these cultures, the line between food and medicine can be deliciously thin. Many of the dishes we enjoy have rich traditions within healing modalities, and science is starting to understand just how many of the herbs work on human physiology.”

 Cinnamon, for example is being studied for its affect on blood sugar, she noted, whereas tumeric (found in curry powder and many Indian dishes) “is a powerful anti inflammatory and is now being studied for relieving Alzheimer’s disease.”

  Clove has a tradition in China for preventing intestinal parasites, she said, and has been used for centuries in western herbalism as a topical anesthetic.

 The event at Copia will feature a walk through the gardens to see what some of the herbs and spices look like when they are growing. The class will make a masala or mixed herb powder and taste a Chinese digestive tea and sample a modern fusion tea cake featuring Chinese Five Spice Powder.

  Georgieff, who recently graduated from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, said “As a respite from school, I discovered Copia and became a garden docent, leading tours through the edible gardens.”

She is also at work on the next class in the series, Herbs of Christmas, which will look at herbs traditionally featured in Christmas decorations, foods and folklore like frankincense and myrrh, and how they are used in healing. This class takes place Dec. 15, 2:30-4 p.m.

To register for either class call Copia at 259-1600.

Herbs of the Asian Kitchen

Saturday, Nov. 17

2:30-4 p.m.

Copia

$20 includes admission