#humulus lupus

[pnwplantpups]

Humulus lupus 'Liberty' Gen II 8.12.18

[magischepflanzen-blog]

Hopfen (Humulus lupus) – Bierzutat, psychoaktives Schafmittel & Heilpflanze (Infos) | MagischePflanzen.de

Hopfen (Humulus lupus) ist ein bekanntes pflanzliches Schlafmittel mit psychoaktiver und heilender Wirkung. Infos zu Dosis, Wirkung etc.!

Infoartikel zu Hopfen (Humulus lupus), einer psychoaktiven Pflanze, natürliches Schlafmittel & Bierzutat!

[floraldictionary]

Hop (humulus lupus) - injustice, passion, pride

As most proud Belgians, I myself am particularly fond of one of our primary claims to fame: the brewing of truly exceptional beer. In a country where there are more centuries-old breweries than I can list or count and more varieties than I could ever drink, it stands to reason that I feel very happy when I see this sturdy plant climbing its way upwards through the brush on the side of the road.

Over a milennium ago, the most popular drink in Europe was ale. A drink of fermented grain and grout, it was a much, much safer bet than the tainted water from the well! But ale was fickle and expired quick; it was in everybody’s best interest to find a longer lasting alternative. The first mention of adding hop to ale was in 736, in Weihenstephan (near München), but it was Hildegard von Bingen who wrote about the good properties of the plant in her  Physica Sacra three centuries later. Hop would not only increase the sell-by date considerably, but the bitter flavour would also offset the sweet-and-sour ale and make for a much richer, tastier drink.

The recipe for beer spread incredibly quickly to abbeys all around Europe, and couldn’t be stopped, even by ale-brewers who saw their profits ddiminish and did everything in their power to stop the spread of hops. Today, we still drink beer, but since water quality has greatly improved since the Dark Ages, it is as a treat, not a necessity.

Poetry recommendations: (x) (x) (x) (x)

(writing and illustration by Mira Gryseels)

[flora-file]

humulus (by flora-file)

[microecos]

"Common Hops - Humulus lupus

Constantine Samuel Rafinesque (1828) Medical flora; or, Manual of the medical botany of the United States of North America:Containing a selection of above 100 figures and descriptions of medical plants, with their names, qualities, properties, history, &c.: and notes or remarks on nearly 500 equivalent substitutes.