Herb Collection
Treat Worms and Find the Green Fairy
A bitter aromatic
Artemisia includes hundreds of species, which belong to the daisy family. Native to Asia, it includes species like mugwort, wormwood, tarragon, and sagebrush. Find varieties in dry habitats of temperate climates across both hemispheres.
Carl Linnaeus devised the genus in 1753 — named after Artemis, Greek goddess of the hunt. Also known as “The Green Fairy,” absinthe at one time contained wormwood, anise, and fennel. They gave its characteristic bitter flavor and green color. The US outlawed the active chemical, Thujone, until 2007, and now it’s regulated to 10 ppm.
*Caution: Abortifacient herb*
Nomenclature: Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort)
Tastes: bitter, hints of cedar-leaf/sage, musky notes
Uses: soups, stews, teas, folk medicine
Recipe: Mugwort Soup
Ingredients: Butter, onion, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, broth, heavy cream, watercress or mugwort, Tabasco, salt and pepper. See link.
