Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), a plant native to Europe, has a long and fascinating history of culinary and medicinal uses. An often overlooked herb, with its delicate white flowers and sweet almond fragrance, has played a significant role in British and European cuisine for centuries.

As a food historian, I find the story of meadowsweet particularly intriguing. It offers a window into our culinary past and holds potential for modern gastronomy.

Since ancient times, people have used meadowsweet in beverages, traditionally adding it to herb beers, mead, and honey wine to impart a unique flavour to these fermented drinks.

The plant's importance in medieval times is evident from its mention in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Knight's Tale', where it appears as one of fifty ingredients in a mysterious concoction called 'Save'. This reference highlights the plant's use in medieval cuisine and its potential medicinal applications, as many drinks of that era were believed to have health-promoting properties.