Hops

Humulus lupulus

vegetable

Young shoots of a perennial climber of the hemp family, picked in spring and cooked like asparagus; its very bitter cones flavour beer.

Origin

Europe and Western Asia

Season (United States)

April to May

Preparation

Only the last ten centimeters are kept, the tender part that snaps cleanly under your fingers.

Did you know?

A document signed in 822 by Adalard, abbot of Corbie, is one of the oldest to record the use of hops in beer.