Woodruff substitute

[mr hoppy]

Not sure if this exercises anyone else, but I've found a substitute for woodruff syrup. It's a Russian tarragon flavored ( ) soft drink called Tarkhun or Тархун. Tarragon and woodruff are supposed to taste quite similar although woodruff is sweeter. It tastes similar enough (from memory) and it's a sickly enough shade green even with just a dash.

[LordEoin]

looks... delicious?

[mr hoppy]

Looks like washing up liquid more like. It's too sweet on its own, but not bad in berliner weisse.

[Bubbles]

A woodruff berliner weiss has the dubious honour of being the only beer I've ever spat out. Jesus - it's vile stuff.

I suspect washing up liquid would taste better...

[LordEoin]

it's the only flavor berliner weiss i've tasted and I loved it 

[Bubbles]

Jaysis...

I'd like to try the raspberry version. Berliner is definitely on my todo list for 2015.

Btw, for anyone into betliner weiss, the mad fermentationist has a lot of blog posts on the subject. Santy is bringing me his new book this year..

[mr hoppy]

I actually quite liked it myself. Tarragon is nice.

What was hilarious was our little fellas don't get a lot of soft drinks, and they'll drink anything with sugar in it so the tarragon soft drink was a big hit with them.

Personally, I think there's a nice little cold war resonance to flavoring a beer from Berlin with a Russian soft drink made to a Georgian recipe.

[LordEoin]

Try force carbing some. I'd say it would be pretty unusual in a good way

[mr hoppy]

I'm thinking about doing something with some tarragon, some food coloring and some Splenda when I get time, but this was a pretty good "proof of concept" in the meantime.

Woodruff actually grows wild in Ireland, and I've got a source, but you're supposed to pick it in late April just before it starts to flower which is a while off yet.

[LordEoin]

'The flowers are of a very sweet smell as is the rest of the herb, which, being made up into garlands or bundles, and hanged up in houses in the heat of summer, doth very well attemper the air, cool and make fresh the place, to the delight and comfort of such as are therein. It is reported to be put into wine, to make a man merry, and to be good for the heart and liver, it prevaileth in wounds, as Cruciata and other vulnerary herbs do.'

[mr hoppy]

Quote, from where?

In Germany, they do put woodruff syrup into wine as well - it's called Maywine or something similar. A bit like Russia, for me at least, Germany is a country of familiar - but slightly odd flavors.

[Will_D]

See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galium_odoratum

Must look out for it next spring?

[mr hoppy]

That's the one.

It known to grow wild in deciduous wooded areas such as Mount Desert off the Lee Road in Cork.

My wife has a relation whose an enthusiastic gardener who actually grows it so here's hoping they can sort me out in due course.

[LordEoin]

Quote, from where?

Botanical.com. It's a great site for finding out about plants and their uses and history/folklore.
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/w/wooswe31.html