Vallarai Keerai Podi

Vallarai Keerai Podi, also called Brahmi Leaves Powder, is made from vallarai keerai — known elsewhere as Gotu Kola or Brahmi. The leaves are dried and ground to a fine powder. It has been part of Tamil cooking for generations, and the powder form keeps far longer than the fresh leaf and needs no preparation. How to use: stir half a teaspoon into rasam, buttermilk or hot rice with ghee. It is strong, so start with less than you think.