On my mind …. Sweet Woodruff
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While growing up in Germany we would often have bright green syrups or jellies which I later learned were flavoured with Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum). Two days ago, while on a Christmas Foodie Tour (hosted by Taste Trekkers) I found a carbonated softdrink which is also flavoured with the same herb. Of course I had to buy it and see if the taste is that of my childhood and it is. Not overly sweet, it has a flavour that is difficult to describe. Maybe floral is another word for it, very pleasant that’s for sure. I always wondered if the bright colour was natural or added artificially.
So today sweet woodruff is on my mind. I’d like to find some, fresh of course, to play with and see if I can recreate recipes of old. Oh, that reminds me, one of the quirky ways of using the sweet, green syrup is to add it to a light wheat beer and turn it into a Berliner Weiße, a drink popular in Berlin dating back to the 16th century.
Would you not get the same flavor or even any fragrance (other than a generic herbal and “green” flavor) from using the dried herb sold by an apothecary?
Hi Wade,
Yes, I think you would probably get the same flavour, colour and fragrance using dried. I’d just like to start with fresh to get a feel for the plant and it’s uses. Having said that, if I cant get it locally I will definitely use dried instead.
Please let us know how your attempts with dried woodruff turn out! I have frequently heard–though, without any good reason given–that the dried herb will not be fragrant what-so-ever in many herb books. I haven’t tried it for myself; but, I wonder if they have used it to see for themselves, or if they are merely accepting one book as gospel, and then this “rumor” just spread through the Herb World? Just a thought, anyway…
Ooooo sweet woodruff softdrink!!!! I want some:)here is my contribution:)
http://comfreycottages.blogspot.com/
big hugs to you