Adds the flavour to Benedictine (Angelica)

Member Name: enlightened_one

Product:	Angelica
Date:	06/03/07 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can be used in salads

Disadvantages: Large doses first stimulate and then paralyse the central nervous system

This review is about the herb Angelica, It's an important flavouring in liqueurs such as Benedictine, and is gown commercially for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.

Wild angelica can be confused with water hemlock, which is poisonous so beware. There are also serious side effects which I have made a note of at the bottom.

Angelica - Angelica archangelica

***The Plant***

Angelica is also known as Garden angelica and the Root of the Holy Ghost.

Angelica is a native to Europe, Asia and North America, but is cultivated worldwide as a garden plant. The wild angelica can be found growing in moist fields and hedgerows all over Europe, the American species of angelica is found in the same conditions in Canada and in Northern and Central states in America.

Angelica comes from the Greek word "angelos" which is meant to mean "messenger".

Legend has it that an angel revealed to a monk in a dream that the herb was a cure for the plague, and angelica was considered a safeguard against evil, witchcraft in particular.

***Species***

Biennial and short lived perennial (lives 4 years). Angelica can grow between 3 and 8 foot and can spread 3 foot. In the second year the dramatic flower heads appear in the summer to the autumn with a sweet smelling scent. The leaves are a bright green and the root can range from a yellow to a reddish brown.

The wild Angelica can grow can grow between 4 and 58 foot and can spread 2 foot, which produce a white flower tinged with a little pink.

The American Angelica grows the same as the wild species, but produces a white to greenish white flower.

The Chinese Angelica is also known as Woman Ginseng.

***Cultivation***

Angelica can really only be grown from seed, as the seed loses its viability in around 3 months, the seeds need to be sown fresh in the autumn. If you can sow in the autumn, you can place the seeds in the fridge and sow in the spring. The seedling doesn't do very well being replanted so it best to sow direct in the soil, and thin out once germination has happened.

I suppose you can sow in biodegradable pots and over winter them, and then plant outside, this would give the minimum amount of root disturbance. I will try and give it ago this year and see what happens, and ill keep you informed.

If you want to only grow for one season, once the plant has flowered and seeded, cut back and dig up the root. If you want more angelica next season let the plant die back after flowering and seeding, and cut back and leave, but be warned it could seed thousands of little angelica.

Angelica prefers to grow somewhere sheltered, and need a good watering from time to time. Harvest the leaves and use whilst fresh; pick the flowers in early summer to use in dried flower arrangements. The root should be harvested medicinally in the second year after flowering and leave to dry.

Can be grown in containers but may need to be staked when the flowers appear and water well.

***Pests***
Angelica can suffer from blackfly, which can be removed using a liquid horticultural soap.

***Medicinal***

Angelica stimulates the circulation, and has also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. The young leaves can be made into an herbal tea, taken at night its good for reducing tension. The herbal tea is also good for headaches, indigestion, anaemia and coughs and colds.

Externally used in a bath preparation it is good for exhaustion and rheumatic pain. Crushed leaves that are placed in the car are supposed to help with travel sickness, and the American angelica is used to help cure heartburn and flatulence. Also the Chinese angelica is a blood tonic in Chinese herbal prescriptions.

Please read the warning section!

***Other Use***

Angelica looks very nice in dried flower arrangements.

***Culinary***

Young leaves can be used in salads, and the seeds are used by confectioners in pastries.

If you are cooking rhubarb and gooseberries add young angelica leaves, you will not need to add as much sugar. Its not that the angelica actually sweetens the fruit but the flavour of the angelica takes away the acidity of the rhubarb.

***WARNING***

Large doses first stimulate and then paralyse the central nervous system, the tea is not recommended to those who suffer from diabetes. The wild angelica taken in large doses also has a depressing effect on the nervous system.

Thanks for reading my reviews, and thankyou for rating them.

Tashi Delek (May everything be well)

enlightened_one © 2007

Summary: A nice looking plant that can do some serious damage to your health