Why was it popular for custards and pancakes? I had read it had a burst of flavor like peppermint. Does it have a mint taste?
There are more than one species going by this name. I assume you may be referring to Tanacetum vulgare. Is that correct?
Isn’t tansy toxic?
“Human consumption of common tansy has been practiced for
centuries with few ill effects, yet the toxic properties of
the plants are cumulative and long term consumption
of large quantities has caused convulsions and even
death.” 
- source https://www.montana.edu/extension/invasiveplants/documents/mt_noxious_weeds/common_tansy.pdf
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Yeah, if I remember correctly tansy has been consumed by humans in small doses precisely because it is a poison. For example, it is used as to kill intestinal parasites. You’d find it in the witch-doctor’s arsenal. Obviously, such use is episodic and dosage really matters.
Edit: Oops, sorry. That’s what the article says – and more.
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Tansy’s got a bit of a history, but you gotta be super careful with it. It’s not just like mint, and it’s got something in it that can make you pretty sick if you have too much. People say the taste is kinda weird, bitter and a bit like medicine, so I’d say don’t mess with it.
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