Fish mints are both food and plants in Sichuan. They grow collectively in the fields, turf slopes, and especially in moist earth. Their leaves are shaped like hearts and their roots are deep so that people have to use hoes and sickles to dig them out.

Fish mint in chili oil, salty pickles, mashed garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce and vinegar are popular in Sichuan. It also can be found in hotpot, spicy hotpot and fried dishes.

People who like them think they’re fragrant and tasteful. But some times people regard it as “dark cooking”. Some people even describe it is as “10 times of fish-like smell plus soap smell”.