Plants Index
Allspice
Pimenta dioica. Allspice is the dried fruit of the p. dioica plant. The fruits are picked when green & unripe and are traditionally dried in the sun. They were referred to as bayberries in The Art of Distillation & bring all the nutmeg, cinnamon & clove top notes to Seedlip Spice 94.
Bitter Orange
Citrus x aurantium. Most commonly known as the Seville orange or marmalade orange for its tart character & pectin-rich peel, Bitter Orange brings a sour character that is the complex base profile for Seedlip Grove 42.
Blood Orange
Citrus x sinensis. The Blood Orange is a natural hybrid of the pomelo & the tangerine. Its famous flesh develops the characteristic maroon colour when the fruit grows in low temperatures overnight. Less sweet, its soft berry overtones of raspberry & strawberry are ideal to add some depth to the Grove 42 blend.
Cascarilla
Croton eluteria. Native to the Caribbean, the bark from Cascarilla is highly aromatic with sweet, nutty notes on the palate. It has historically been used in vermouth and amaro.
Ginger
Zingiber officinale. The Ginger plant is a herbaceous perennial that grows about a metre tall & is from the same family as turmeric, cardamom & galangal. Its root adds a sweet warmth to the Grove 42 blend.
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi. Originating in Barbados from an accidental cross between a sweet orange & a pomelo, Grapefruits were introduced to Europe in the 17th Century. The oils in the peel bring a fantastic bitterness & adult tartness to Seedlip Spice 94.
Green Cardamom
Elettaria cardamomum. The third most expensive spice in the world (after vanilla and saffron), Cardamom brings floral and fragrant notes to Seedlip Spice 94.
Hay
Lolium multiflorum. Hay is typically a blend of grasses, such as ryegrass, timothy & brome with alfalfa & clover. Its green & dry flavours (baking vegetables in Hay is a must!) are unique to the specific blend we use – an excellent ryegrass Hay.
Hops
Humulus lupulus. The first documented cultivation of Hops was in AD736 in Germany & in 1524 the first British Hops were grown. Most commonly used in beer, Hops bring slightly bitter green & peppery notes to our blend.
Lemon
Citrus x limon. Lemon entered Europe via Italy no later than the 2nd Century during the time of Ancient Rome. Wonderfully fragrant, rich in terpenes & tannins, the peel has a sour acidity and fresh, zesty character.
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus. Also known as barbed wire grass or silky heads, Lemongrass is a tropical island plant of the grass family & is widely used in medicine & cooking. It brings a perfect balance between complex rooty spice & zesty freshness to Grove 42.
Mandarin
Citrus reticulata. Mandarin trees can produce up to 6000 fruit a year & these sweet, easy-to-peel, small oranges are the most popular citrus fruits in China, Japan & the Mediterranean.
Oak
Quercus alba. Also known as White Oak & native to North America, oak is commonly used to make bourbon & wine barrels and brings a dry, tannic character to Seedlip Spice 94.
Peas
Pisum sativum. A delicacy in the 17th Century, kings were known to wow guests at banquets with platters of freshly picked Peas. Peas are nitrogen fixing (good for the soil) & there is more protein in a cup of Peas than in an egg, more fibre than in a slice of wholemeal bread & more vitamin C than in 2 apples. They bring all those fresh green notes to Seedlip Garden 108. Eat your Peas, please.
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis. A woody, perennial herb with fragrant leaves native to the Mediterranean region, Rosemary brings a really herbaceous character to Garden 108 blend. The name derives from the Latin for dew (ros) & sea (marinus) – “Dew of the Sea”.
Spearmint
Mentha spicata. The name derives from its pointed leaf tips & this perennial herb is almost too easy to grow at home - it has a habit of taking over! Spearmint brings the bright menthol freshness to the top notes of Garden 108.
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris. An aromatic perennial evergreen herb with culinary, medicinal & ornamental uses, Thyme is piney & peppery on the palate with mint & bitter lemon notes. It is easy to grow at home & loves well-drained soil & full sun.