Spiced Up History

It's the year 1783 and there's a war ending here in America. It was frowned upon for years by your patriot neighbors if you used English traded goods, so many people are using substitutes for common items in their daily lives such as the new trend of drinking coffee rather than tea. War brings about necessity, and from necessity derives discovery. At this point in time, herbs that are growing local are being discovered for having various culinary uses. One of these herbs people use in place of allspice, an herb called Lindera benzoin, otherwise known as the spice bush.

If I could describe this aroma of this bush in one word, it would be: citrus. Heaven knows I'm in love with tangy citrus aromas! When I first discovered this herb, it was actually a year ago as I was walking along the edge of the woods. The breeze came and along with it wafted a wonderfully citrus-hinted aroma. I had to find that plant! I walked for almost ten minutes before I came to a bush with red berries. From the leaves came the aroma I had been looking for. But what of the berries? What plant is this?

"People collected the berries when they were fully red and would use them immediately, or dried them for later."

I did my research, and I found a history of the bush that I never expected. It is true that the leaves, drupes (as the berries are called), and the bark were used for many reasons. The leaves were used in place of English tea, and the berries were used in place of allspice. 

The berries taste much like allspice, but not as peppery. Think more citrus than allspice's natural flavor. People collected the berries when they were fully red and would use them immediately, or dried them for later. The taste was overwhelming for me to bite into raw, rather than what it would probably taste like as a spice in a meal. 

Doctors, even well after the revolutionary war, would prescribe an infusion of the bark for fevers. Indians used it traditionally as a favored medicinal herb. Today, people have used this herb for treating intestinal parasites, and for illnesses such as the common cold. The citrus aroma and the tangy flavor may be due to the constituents of nerolidol and 1,8-cineole. Plants containing those constituents have commonly been used for treating illnesses such as a cold and have been found to be antibacterial and antifungal. 
​

This herb is commonly found in water related areas, such as by a creek (where I found mine). They also can be growing any place that contains a hidden spring (yet another place where I found one). There is no knowledge of any contraindications for this herb. I urge you to go explore and look for this fabulous herb, you'll want to keep its location in mind for the future! Our best investment is knowing what grows around us. 

I made a tea out of this herb, and as I placed the leaves in the water the aroma filled the Nook.

Oh heavens, my dear - this is what dreams are made of.

The flavor as a tea isn't so strong, so those who are sensitive to strong flavors may be pleased to hear that. 

To everyone, I wish good health to you and yours. If you have any herbal requests, or questions of any sort, feel free to contact me! I hope you all have a wonderful week. If any of you find this herb, please message me photos and your story, and I may share them on the blog! 
​

A key factor of wildcrafting is leaving as little imprint as possible. Part of that is letting this guy keep his home. This spider is this plant's guardian angel.

 Lindera Benzoin. Spice Bush. (n.d.), henrriettes-herb

​ Medicinal herbsSpice BushLindera benzoin. (n.d.). 

herbsociety, herbs Linderabenzoin