The spice is obtained from an evergreen tree which grows to about 8 m (26 ft) high and is native to southeastern China. It is a very ancient tree belonging to a primitive family. In China, where it was known long before the Christian era, it was one of the most popular of spices along with cinnamon.
We learn about the first hop-fields in Europe from a deed of donation issued by the Frankish king Pepin III 'the Short' in the year 768 A.D. when hops began to be cultivated by monks in the monasteries, where beer was brewed. From that time on the cultivation of hops spread not only in Europe but also in North America, Australia and New Zealand as the consumption of beer grew throughout the world.
The female flowers are used almost exclusively in the brewing of beer, to which they not only impart a pleasant bitter taste but, because of the resin present in the lupulin, also prevent the multiplication of bacteria that cause lactic fermentation which spoils the beer. Tender young hop shoots were at one time eaten as a salad or boiled like asparagus.
The ripe follicles burst on the ventral side to release the single seed contained in each. They are harvested when ripe and then dried. The seeds have a pungent, spicy flavour.'
Star anise is sold in shops both whole and ground, but it is used for flavouring only in powdered form, like anise, chiefly in sweet dishes and coffee-cakes, in plum and pear compotes, and to flavour candies. It is also an ingredient of ground spice mixtures for flavouring pured fruits and tarts. It is a typical spice of Chinese cookery, used chiefly with young pork and duck, and is an ingredient of soy sauce. It is also used to flavour aromatic liqueurs such as anisette.
The flowers appear in late summer and early autumn, which is also when the plant is harvested by cutting the flowering parts that are not yet woody. Because it contains essential oils hyssop should he dried at a temperature not exceeding 35C (95F).
We learn about the first hop-fields in Europe from a deed of donation issued by the Frankish king Pepin III 'the Short' in the year 768 A.D. when hops began to be cultivated by monks in the monasteries, where beer was brewed. From that time on the cultivation of hops spread not only in Europe but also in North America, Australia and New Zealand as the consumption of beer grew throughout the world.
The female flowers are used almost exclusively in the brewing of beer, to which they not only impart a pleasant bitter taste but, because of the resin present in the lupulin, also prevent the multiplication of bacteria that cause lactic fermentation which spoils the beer. Tender young hop shoots were at one time eaten as a salad or boiled like asparagus.
The ripe follicles burst on the ventral side to release the single seed contained in each. They are harvested when ripe and then dried. The seeds have a pungent, spicy flavour.'
Star anise is sold in shops both whole and ground, but it is used for flavouring only in powdered form, like anise, chiefly in sweet dishes and coffee-cakes, in plum and pear compotes, and to flavour candies. It is also an ingredient of ground spice mixtures for flavouring pured fruits and tarts. It is a typical spice of Chinese cookery, used chiefly with young pork and duck, and is an ingredient of soy sauce. It is also used to flavour aromatic liqueurs such as anisette.
The flowers appear in late summer and early autumn, which is also when the plant is harvested by cutting the flowering parts that are not yet woody. Because it contains essential oils hyssop should he dried at a temperature not exceeding 35C (95F).
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