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Archiver > GERMANNA_COLONIES > 2000-06 > 0960476483


From: "elkehall" <>
Subject: Re: [GERMANNA] May Wine
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 11:01:23 -0400
References: <393F9E83.4A0267BE@inficad.com>


Judy,
>
> When I read about the May Poles, I thought about asking you about the
> tradition of drinking May Wine in May.
>

There is indeed a tradition of making a "Maibowle". I had to look it up
how to make one:
You use 1 handfull of fresh Waldmeister (= sweet Woodruff), two bottles of
light white wine, 100 gram sugar. Add a handfull of sweet woodrull, which
must be still young and may not have any flowers yet into a bowl, add two
bottles of white wine, cover the bowl and let steep for no more than 1/2
hour in a cool location. Then remove the Waldmeister (translation = master
of the woods), add the sugar and stir.

Waldmeister (Galium odoratum) grows wild in decidious tree forests, needs
calcium loamy soil. Found in Central Europe. The plant contains
cumaringlycoside. If a Maibowle is prepared incorrectly, it can cause
headaches and dizziness, also liver damage if used for a long time. For
that reason, the Maibowle may no longer be served in restaurants or taverns.
When making a Waldmeisterbowle it is important to pour the wine over the
herbs, but allowing them not to soak.

Medicinal uses: Waldmeister helps against cramps, and can be used for
menstrual problems, sleeplessness, against kidney stones, and liver
problems.
Cumarin is an ingredient in rat poison!!!!

Historical notes: In addition to above uses, Waldmeister was used for yellow
fever, and as a blood cleaner. Hieronymus Bock, who called the plant
"Herzfreud und Leberkraut " (Friend of the heart and liver herb) wrote:
"... / diß kreutlein mit seiner blüet pfleget man in wein zulegen / unnd
darüber zutrincken / vermeinen also ein fröligkeit und gesunde Leber davon
zuerlangen."

(This herb with its flower is submerged in wine, and people who drink it
believe they will be happy and get a healthy liver)!

Elke



> I am an herb gardener and learned about May Wine (Americanized) from my
> many herb books. For the last 8 or 9 years I have grown Sweet Woodruff
> in my herb garden and made May Wine during the first part of May to
> serve to my friends. Now, I live in Scottsdale, AZ. and do a lot of
> volunteer work at the Desert Botanical Garden here. Every Spring my
> co-workers start asking me how the Woodruff is growing (It's much harder
> to grow here - too hot and too dry!) and when I will bring the May Wine
> to sample during our break from work. It's become a tradition!
>
> Can you tell me more about May Wine?
>
> Judy Bates
> (Henry Hofmann descendant)
>
>
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