Herbs & Botanicals

Product Description

Botanical Name: Artemisia absinthium

Plant Family: Asteraceae (Compositae)

Botanical Description:
Artemisia absinthium, commonly known as wormwood, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It typically grows between 0.6 to 1.5 meters in height, featuring silvery-green, deeply lobed leaves that are finely divided and covered in fine hairs. The plant produces small, yellowish-green flowers that are clustered in dense, elongated spikes. Wormwood has a strong, aromatic scent and a bitter taste. It thrives in dry, rocky soil and is often found growing in wastelands, roadsides, and other disturbed areas.

Introduction:
Wormwood has a long history of use in herbal medicine, culinary arts, and traditional rituals. Revered for its reported medicinal properties and bitter flavour, wormwood has been employed in various cultures for centuries. It is perhaps best known for its role in the production of absinthe, a highly alcoholic beverage that was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite its association with absinthe, wormwood has a wide range of traditional uses in herbalism and in cooking.

Preparations:
Infusion: Prepare a wormwood infusion by steeping dried wormwood leaves and flowers in hot water for 5-12 minutes. Strain and drink the infusion as a tea. Due to its bitter taste, wormwood tea is often sweetened with honey or other natural sweeteners.
Tincture: Prepare a wormwood tincture by macerating fresh or dried wormwood leaves and flowers in alcohol (such as vodka or brandy) for several weeks. Strain the tincture and store it in a dark glass bottle. Take the tincture orally by diluting it in water or juice according to the dosage instructions provided on the product label or by a qualified herbalist.