Rose Hips

Used in wines, teas, specialty beer and confections, rose hips are a versatile fruit/herb. Rich in vitamin C, the rose hip shells with the seeds removed are the best type to use for wine as the seeds can add undesirable tannins.

Dried Woodruff

Woodruff was one of the essential garlands hung in medieval European churches in preparation for holidays. The distinctive scent of fresh-cut hay and vanilla gives an exhilarating flavor to wines, punches and beer. Woodruff is considered by the FDA to be safe for use in alcoholic beverages but caution is advised for other internal uses.

Mugwort

Mugwort was used in the Middle Ages to ward off evil possession and was a popular stuffing for roast goose. As the name implies, it was traditionally used in mugs of beer before the popularity of hops. Europeans frequently stuffed pillows with mugwort (and hops) to bring good and vivid dreams.

Wormwood

The principal ingredient in the legendary liqueur Absinthe, wormwood use dates back to before 1600 BC. While used historically as a beverage ingredient, the FDA advises against the internal use of wormwood due to the substance thujone. Though wormwood is still used in the production of vermouth and Campari, it is a variety other than Artemisia absinthium.

Juniper Berries

Usually known as the principal flavoring in gin, it is also used to flavor beer and other beverages. Native Americans have utilized juniper for its healing powers and to relieve arthritis. In folklore, juniper planted outside a front door kept out witches who had to correctly count its needles before entering the house.

Sweet Orange Peel

While a cousin to the Florida orange, this sweet variety will not give your beer a metallic taste like the domestic version. If you’re familiar with the taste of Cointreau or Grand Marnier then you will be thrilled with the flavor that sweet orange peel can add to your Belgian style strong ales and special holiday brews.

Dried Elderberries

Native to the British Isles, the small dark colored elderberry makes an excellent “port” style wine. The appearance of berries on the bushes is said to have signaled farmers when to sow their wheat. The berries are also reputed to have been used to make one of the first black hair dyes in ancient Greece.

Sweet Gale

Also called “Bog Myrtle” and “Badge of the Campbells,” Sweet Gale is a deciduous shrub with fragrant wood and leaves found abundantly in the Northern Hemisphere especially on the Scottish moors and bogs. It has been used as a substitute for hops in Yorkshire in a beer named appropriately “Gale Beer.” The seeds and leaves have also been used in soups and stews, perfumes and candles. This is not surprising since it is in the same family as bayberry, which is a popular candle scent. Used as a tea infusion it has been known to ease stomach disorders. This relatively unknown herb is well suited for Holiday beers.

Indian Sarsaparilla

This herb takes its name from the Spanish “saran” meaning a bramble, and “parilla,” a vine. IT is a misconception that sarsaparilla is the primary flavor of the beverage bearing its name. Refreshing sarsaparilla is made from a root beer type base to which has been added several of many roots and herbs. The sarsaparilla herb was originally added to beverages to help improve mouth feel and head retention, but mainly for its medicinal properties as an agent to cure mouth sores, rheumatism and dropsy.

Licorice Root

Do not confuse the flavor of licorice with that of anise oil, which is not related to licorice at all and is a poor imitation. Licorice has been used for everything from cough remedies to ulcer cures. The root imparts a very characteristic flavor and is surprisingly sweet. It contains glycyrrhizin, a substance 50 times sweeter than sugar, and is often added to chocolate to enhance sweetness.

Paradise Seeds

Also called “Grains of Paradise,” “Guinea grains” and “Melegueta pepper,” these small seeds look like cardamom but have a character all their own. The spice is native to West Africa and during medieval times was used to flavor food. It has also been used as a pepper substitute. While it does have a peppery zing, it also has notes of citrus and an “earthy” pine aroma.

Wintergreen Leaves

While many people confuse wintergreen with mint, they are not related in any way. Wintergreen has long been used as an herbal remedy for arthritis, swollen joints and sore muscles. It goes by many names: teaberry, checkerberry, dearberry, spiceberry, boxberry, and even tea party. The latter refers to its use during the American Revolution as a substitute for heavily taxed British tea.

Vanilla Beans

Vanilla is an ancient flavoring, used by the Aztecs, who added it to chocolate. Bourbon Vanilla beans are one of the highest quality vanilla beans on the market. Brewers have most recently used vanilla beans to flavor cream stouts and holiday beers via a “dry hopping” method. Vanilla is called for in many recipes for making cordials or soda pop from scratch. It is a common ingredient in root beers and cream sodas.

Bitter Orange Peel

Also called “Curacao orange peel,” these green-gray peels are one of the most popular specialty herbs on the market. They are used commercially by domestic brewers to duplicate the beer styles that put Belgium on the brewing map. While not very bitter, they are a key ingredient in Belgian style white beers.

Cardamom Seed

Cardamom is a distinctive spice from the same family as ginger. Its flavor, which has been described as a “spicy cola,” combines well with coriander, cumin and orange, and often all are used together in specialty Belgian and Holiday Style beer.

Coriander Seed

Ancient Egyptian and Sanskrit tests document the use of coriander for more than 3,000 years. The Chinese once believed the herb conferred immortality and in the Middle Ages it was put into love potions as an aphrodisiac. Coriander is now widely used in specialty and Belgian style beers.

Ginger Root

Probably the most widely used herb for holiday beer, the rhizome grows in the tropics and was brought by conquistadors to the New World via Jamaica.

Heather Tips

It is both the flowers and the greenery of this wonderful herb which impart a pleasing aroma and smooth bitterness to beers. It is especially appropriate for a Scotch ale known as Fraoch. With a flavor similar to a subtle chamomile/mint blend with a hint of lavender, heather pairs well with honey. It’s also great for tea, with reputed calming qualities.

Wonder Pak #1

First in a  series of pre mixed spice packs from G. Gordon Imports.  The Wonder Pak #1 was designed for use with holiday season beers and contains a mixture of traditional holiday spices. 

Spruce Essence

A traditional Spring time favorite brew.  This essence is very strong and if used to excess will make you think you're licking sap from a pine tree.  We suggest you use half of whatever your recipe calls for.

Oak Essence and Oak Chips

Both used in winemaking to add an oakey taste to your reds (or whites ). Simulates ageing your wine in oak barrels.  Also can be used to reproduce a true India Pale Ale.

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