Herbs and spices are plants which delight the senses.
For centuries barks, roots, herbs and spices have been used in brewing
beer and wine making not to mention cooking. Wine makers and brewers
add herbs and spices to balance flavors.
We believe that our herbs and spices are essential to
the creation of unique specialty beer, wine, vinegar, tea and other beverages.
It has never been easier to find all of the herbs you need in one convenient
location.
Roots &
Barks
CINNAMON
STICKS 1 oz. $1.95 Cinnamomum
cassia.
Known principally as a flavoring for savory dishes in Asia and Africa
and for its use in pastries and beverages, cinnamon has also found its
way into recipes for spicy holiday ales and ciders, sodas, coffees and
teas.
BIRCH
BARK 4 oz. $3.95 Betula alba.
A tea made from Birch leaves may be used as an effective remedy against
cystitis and infections of the urinary system as well as removing excess
water from the body (edema) and dissolving kidney stones. The cleansing
properties have also been used against gout, rheumatism and mild arthritis.
INDIAN
SARSAPARILLA 2 oz. $3.45 Hemidesmus
indicus.
The herb takes its name from the Spanish "sarza"
meaning a bramble, and "parilla", a vine. It is a misconception that
sarsaparilla is the primary flavor of the beverage bearing its name.
Refreshing sarsaparilla is made from a root beer type base to which has
been added several roots and herbs. The sarsaparilla herb was originally
added to beverages to help improve mouthfeel and head retention, but mainly
for its medicinal properties to cure mouth sores, rheumatism and dropsy.
LICORICE
ROOT 1 oz. $2.95 Glycyrrhiza glabra.
Do not confuse the flavor of licorice with that
of anise, which is not related and is quite different when tasted side
by side. Licorice has been used for everything from cough remedies
to ulcer cures. The root imparts a very characteristic flavor and
is surprisingly sweet. It contains glycyrrhizin, a substance 50 times
sweeter than sugar, and is often added to chocolate to enhance sweetness.
Orange
Peel
SWEET
ORANGE PEEL 1 oz. $2.40 Aurantium dulcis
pericarpium.
While a cousin to the Florida orange, this sweet
variety will not give your beer a metallic taste like the domestic version.
If you're familiar with the taste of Cointreau or Grand Marnier, then you
will be thrilled with the flavor that sweet orange peel can add to your
Belgian style strong ales and special holiday brews.
BITTER
ORANGE PEEL 1 oz. $2.40 Aurantium amarae
pericarpium.
Also called "Curaçau orange peel", these
green-gray peels are one of the most popular specialty herbs on the market.
They are used commercially by domestic brewers to duplicate the beer styles
that put Belgium on the brewing map. While not very bitter, they
are a key ingredient in Belgian style white beers.
Seeds &
Spices
CARDAMOM
SEED 1 oz. $2.10 Elettaria cardamomum.
Cardamom is a distinctive spice from the same
family as ginger. Its flavor, which has been described as a "spicy
cola", combines well with coriander, cumin and orange, and often all are
used together in specialty Belgian and Holiday Style beer.
CORIANDER
SEED 1 oz. $1.60 Coriandrum sativum.
Ancient Egyptian and Sanskrit texts document
the use of coriander for more than 3,000 years. The Chinese once
believed the herb conferred immortality and in the Middle Ages it was put
into love potions as an aphrodisiac. Coriander is now widely used
in specialty and Belgian style beers.
PARADISE
SEEDS 2 gr. $1.50 Aframomun melegueta.
Also called "Grains of paradise", "Guinea grains"
and "Melegueta pepper", these small seeds look like cardamom but have a
character all their own. The spice is native to West Africa and during
medieval times was used to flavor food. It has also been used as
a pepper substitute. While it does have a peppery zing, it also has
notes of citrus and an "earthy" pine aroma.
STAR
ANISE 1 oz. $2.95 Illicium verum.
In times past, fresh star anise was chewed after each meal to aid digestion
and to sweeten the breath. Used in specialty Belgian and holiday
style beers, star anise has a flavor similar to licorice, yet is dramatically
different when tasted side by side.
Herbs &
Flowers
ELDERBERRIES
(dried) 8 oz. $9.50 Sambucus nigra.
Native to the British Isles, the small dark colored
elderberry makes an excellent "port" style wine. The appearance of
berries on the bushes is said to have signaled farmers when to sow their
wheat. The berries are also reputed to have been used to make one
of the first black hair dyes in ancient Greece.
ELDERFLOWERS
(dried) 2 oz. $4.95 Sambucus nigra flora.
These natural wonders are good for the outside
as well as the inside. Elderflowers infused in creams have been used
to soften skin, smooth wrinkles, fade freckles and soothe sunburn.
They can be used on their own for making wine or can be added to elderberry
wine to enhance flavor. On their own, they produce a wine compared
to a muscatel. Hot elderflower tea, like chamomile, can make a soothing
nightcap and is said to offer natural relief for the common cold.
HEATHER
TIPS 2 oz. $3.30 Calluna vulgaris It is both the flowers and the greenery of this wonderful herb which
impart a pleasing aroma and smooth bitterness to beers. It is especially
appropriate for a Scotch ale known as Fraoch. With a flavor similar
to a subtle chamomile/mint blend with a hint of lavender, heather pairs
well with honey. It's also great for tea, with reputed calming qualities.
JUNIPER
BERRIES 1 oz. $1.95 Juniperus communis.
Usually known as the principal flavoring in gin,
it is also used to flavor beer and other beverages. Native Americans
have utilized juniper for its healing powers and to relieve arthritis.
In folk lore, juniper planted outside a front door kept out witches who
had to correctly count its needles before entering the house.
MUGWORT
1
oz. $2.70 Artemisia vulgaris.
Mugwort was used in the Middle Ages to ward off
evil possession and was a popular stuffing for roast goose. As the
name implies, it was traditionally used in mugs of beer before the popularity
of hops. Europeans frequently stuffed pillows with mugwort (and hops)
to bring good and vivid dreams.
ROSE
HIPS 3 oz. $4.25 Rosa canina.
Used in wines, teas, specialty beer and confections,
rose hips are a versatile fruit/herb. Rich in vitamin C, the rose
hip shells with the seeds removed are the best type to use for wine as
seeds can add undesirable tannins.
SWEET
GALE 2 gr. $1.95 Myrica gale.
Also called "Bog Myrtle" and "Badge of the Campbells",
Sweet Gale is a deciduous shrub with fragrant wood and leaves found abundantly
in the Northern Hemisphere especially on the Scottish moors and bogs.
It has been used as a substitute for hops in Yorkshire in a beer named
appropriately "Gale Beer". The seeds and leaves have also been used
in soups and stews, perfumes and candles. This is not surprising
since it is in the same family as bayberry, which is a popular candle scent.
Used as a tea infusion it has been known to ease stomach disorders.
This is relatively unknown herb is well suited for holiday beers.
WINTERGREEN
LEAVES 1oz. $2.60 Gaultheria procumbens.
While many people confuse wintergreen with mint,
they are not related in any way. Wintergreen has long been used as
an herbal remedy for arthritis, swollen joints and sore muscles.
It goes by many names: teaberry, checkerberry, dearberry, spiceberry,
boxberry, and even a tea party. The latter refers to its use during
the American Revolution as a substitute for heavily taxed British tea.
WORMWOOD
(dried) 1 oz. $2.30 Artemisia absinthium.
The principal ingredient in the legendary liqueur Absinthe, wormwood
use dates back to before 1600 BC. While used historically as a beverage
ingredient, the FDA advises against the internal use of wormwood due to
the substance thujone. Though wormwood is still used in the production
of vermouth and Campari, it is as variety other than Artemisia absinthium.
WOODRUFF
(dried) 1 oz. $2.90 Asperula odorata.
Woodruff was one of the essential garlands hung
in medieval European churches in preparation for holidays. The distinctive
scent of fresh-cut hay and vanilla gives an exhilarating flavor to wines,
punches and beer. Woodruff is considered by the FDA to be safe for
use in alcoholic beverages but caution is advised for other internal uses.
