Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata, Anthoxanthum nitens)

Effect:

anticoagulant, blood thinner

Areas of application:

Colds, as an insect repellent, sore throat, cough, fever, sexually transmitted diseases, perfume, tobacco

Plant parts used:

leaves

Collection time:

June to August

To find:

Wet, grassy locations in swamp forests, pipe grass meadows, meadow moors and on river banks.

Ingredients:

Coumarin, phytol, ferulic acid, melilotic acid, fructans

Miscellaneous:

Sweetgrass is a perennial grass that is winter hardy even in extreme cold. The fragrant grass blades are not very stiff, and after reaching a height of 20 cm, it bends and grows horizontally by the end of summer, reaching up to 90 cm in length. The leaf blades are shiny and smooth. The underside of the leaf is light colored.

The lower part of the leaves has an intense woodruff aroma and is used in perfume, tobacco, desserts and drinks.

In some parts of Prussia, the grass was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and scattered in front of church doors on feast days. The vodka Grasovka produced by the Underberg Group is flavored with lady grass. Each bottle contains a stalk of the grass for decoration purposes.