Myrica gale, native to Northern Europe, pictures and botanical details.
Description: Sweet Gale is used in beer-making. It's Myrica Gale in latin, commonly as bog myrtle, and this site describes its history and folklore.
beer (4801) scotland (4548) vikings (182) beer-making (29) sweet gale (4) gruit ale (2)
The Vikings knew all about Sweet gale, they used to drink a brew before going into berserk battle with their customary frenzy. They believed the brew gave them extra strength and the madness in battle, but we think it's likely it was other substances they took that put them into this reckless but happy state of mind. The small leaves were often used in Scottish cooking in olden times, and some high class restaurants prepare fish and chicken dishes particualrly when it's young and in season, or dried at othe
Sweet Gale, or bog myrtle as it's more commonly known, has been used traditionally as a midge, flea and other insect repellent, and we used to make our very popular midge repellent with it. More information is on bogmyrtle.com . Its botanical or latin name is Myrica Gale; myricagale.com gives botanical information on where it grows.
Myrica gale, native to Northern Europe, pictures and botanical details.