Sweet gale (bog myrtle)

Myrica gale

spice · herb

Resinous leaves and catkins, smelling of bay and eucalyptus, dried for roasts and sauces, and once used in beer instead of hops.

Origin

Bogs of northern Europe and North America

Where to find it

In wet heaths and marshes in Brittany, the Landes, Scotland and Denmark; the Danes still flavor a schnapps with it, “porsesnaps”.

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

In small amounts, and not during pregnancy: in large doses it causes headaches, and it was reputed to induce abortion.

Did you know?

Before hops, northern beer was flavored with “gruit”, of which it was the main herb.