Senna belongs to the Fabaceae family and is characterised by its pinnate leaves, made up of pairs of small leaflets arranged along a central stem. Native to regions of North Africa and parts of the Middle East, Senna alexandrina has been cultivated and harvested for centuries for its leaves and seed pods.
References to Senna can be found in a variety of historical Egyptian, Arabian, and Indian texts, where it was included among the many botanicals traded and valued throughout the ancient world. Its ability to thrive in hot, arid climates contributed to its widespread cultivation and enduring presence in traditional herbal practices.
By the medieval period, Senna had become a familiar botanical in European apothecaries and herb merchants, where dried leaves and other plant materials were prepared for a range of traditional applications. Today, Senna leaf remains a well-known botanical ingredient, appreciated for its long history of use and distinctive character.
The dried leaves have a subtle herbal aroma with slightly earthy and bittersweet notes. They can be infused as part of traditional herbal preparations or blended with other botanicals to create unique herbal tea mixtures.
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