Hops Flowers

Hops Flowers (Humulus lupulus)

People who appreciate good beer and ale are familiar with the sharp, bitter taste imparted by Humulus lupulus, better known as Hops Flowers. Distantly related to hemp, Hops Flowers are a type of non-vine climbing perennial that like other herbs, grow starting early in the spring and die back in the fall. Powder Hops Flowers are used not only as a flavoring agent in beer and ale (as are many other types of bulk herbs), but as a preservative as well; the popular "India Pale Ale" produced by many regional microbreweries across the US had its origins in the early 19th Century when the old British Empire was at its height. In the days before refrigeration, most traditional English ales could not survive the six-month voyage from London to India aboard clipper ships; therefore, ale destined for outlying British territories contained an extra measure of Hops Flowers as a preservative.

The preservative action of natural herbs like Hops Flowers are connected to its reported medicinal properties. The active biochemical in c/s Hops Flowers, known as humulene, is believed to have antibacterial and stimulant properties. Dried Hops Flowers, when brewed as a tea, is one of such wildcrafted herbs that may also have calming properties. In addition, Hops Flowers are known to contain beneficial flavonoids, which have anti-oxidant properties.

Studies of the actual therapeutic benefits of Hops Flowers are not yet conclusive. People using such bulk organic herbs for medicinal purposes should consult a licensed herbalist or healthcare professional.