Sigh… I give up.
I’ve searched high and low at all the garden centers all around this area in hopes of finding Sweet Woodruff, and nobody seems to have it. They did have some for sale at the Newburgh Country Store’s Herb Sale, but they sold out before I was able to snatch up a couple for my own patio garden.
Just what is Sweet Woodruff, you ask?
Sweet Woodruff (Gallium Odoratum) is a low growing, ground-covering perennial herb, a member of the family Rubiaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Although perhaps not so well-known in America, it does thrive here and can be grown in gardens, etc. It is a good plant to grow around the base of trees and bushes, as it actually prefers shade. It is a rather attractive plant, with leaves that create a star shape, and small white flowers.
This plant has a strong sweet scent, which increases when it is picked and dried… thus it can be used for potpourri and herbal sachets, and as a moth deterrent. The scent reminds me of new-mown hay, and is derived from the chemical coumarin, which is also found in tonka beans and mullein. Woodruff has been used as a flavoring for various foods and flavorings (particularly in Europe); however, because coumarin is a known toxin, its use has been severely limited in modern years. In small doses it is relatively safe, but the scent and flavoring of Sweet Woodruff has been replaced in industrial production by artificial aromas, flavorings, and colorings.
So why was I seeking this herb?
Sweet Woodruff has traditionally been used to flavor May Wine, known in Germany (where it originated) as Maiwein or Maibowle. It is also known as Waldmeisterbowle, after the herb – which is known as Waldmeister in Germany. Just as Wassail is traditionally served during the winter, Maiwein is served during the spring – particularly on May Day, which occurs on May 1st.
In the Pagan calendar, May Day is also known as Beltane.
Over the years, I have made and served May Wine as part of my Beltane celebrations, and have grown Sweet Woodruff specifically for this purpose. I was hoping to find a few small bedding plants which I transplant around my patio so I could continue the tradition this year.
Alas, no such luck. Maybe I should consider ordering a few plants on-line for next year.
As for my May Wine, I guess I’ll have to substitute a bottle of mead instead.
There are many variations of May Wine, but here is the recipe for the version I make:
OCEAN’S BELTANE MAY WINE
a couple of sprigs of sweet woodruff
bottle of white wine (traditionally German, but use what you like)
bottle of champagne or sparkling wine
(I like to use pink champagne or asti spumante)
juice of 2-3 lemons
two lemons cut in slices
juice of 2-3 oranges
two oranges cut in slices
handful of strawberries, cut in slices
handful of whole strawberries to float in the wine
Open up the bottle of white wine, insert the sprigs of woodruff, recork the wine and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, so that the herb steeps and flavors the wine.
The next day, in a large punchbowl, combine the woodruff-flavored white wine with the champagne or sparkling wine. Add the juice from the lemons and oranges.
Add your slices of oranges and lemons, and your sliced strawberries to the punchbowl.
Float the whole strawberries in the May Wine, and add some fresh sprigs of woodruff for a little garnish, perhaps along with some edible spring flowers, such as violets, etc.
Serve in punch cups or wine glasses, with a sprig of the woodruff in the glass, along with a slice of citrus and a strawberry.
Enjoy!
Sending you all Beltane Blessings…
~ Ocean
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
Too bad you don’t live closer to me, Osh… I’ve got a big patch of Sweet Woodruff growing in the shade in our backyard. I’d gladly give you some for your May Wine!
I never knew about Sweet Woodruff being used for making May Wine… guess we learn something new every day. I think I might make a stop at our local wine shop after work this evening! 😉
Beltane Blessings to you as well!
Ahhh, yes…
I remember when you made this for one of our Beltane celebrations, Osh. Good stuff!
However, I would recommend that anyone making this wine punch wait to drink it until AFTER you’ve danced around the May Pole… 😀
mmmm. sounds lovely.
May Wine … Mead … both very good things!!!
Joyous and Blessed Beltane to you and yours!
May Wine sounds delicious! I’m going to give it a try. I have some sweet woodruff at the back of the pond near the woods.
I’m a day late, but there’s the whole weekend to celebrate so…
Happy Beltane! 🙂
Hmmm… why don’t you order the Sweet Woodruff seeds online so that you could grow it, giving it home?
If I knew what part of the country you lived in I’d offer to ship some to you. Just bought some sweet woodruff from a nearby gardening homeowner who puts pots of various plants at the end of their driveway when they thin out their plantings, then I discovered that what I’d bought was the same stuff that is growing on it’s own all through my daylilies. Have decided to go ahead and keep what I bought anyhow as it will save me digging up patches of it. Very much like your site (which I wouldn’t have found if I hadn’t bought the woodruff in the first place, since I went online to look up more info about the plant). Consider yourself bookmarked!
You can buy Sweet Woodruff seed at NextHarvest.com
address: 3421 Bream St, Gautier, MS 39553
Have you found Sweet Woodruff here? I’m sure I’ve seen it – but can’t place where. Glad you are connected to a celebration for the holiday – I have friends in the Santa Cruz Mountains who do a wonderful maypole, and stay up all night doing this and that – seems like a wonderful thing to be doing amid wildflowers and sweet winds – woodruff or no!
Tomorrow I’ll be on Mt. Diablo, delving deeply into baby blue-eyes which is heaven on earth here-abouts. There’s a wonderful field there that looks as if bits of the sky fell to earth, and decided to stick around mirroring the upper world.
I’ll bury my face in that sweet innocent color, and enjoy it carrying the innocence of springtime.
Ginny
Hey, If you are in Newburgh, NY, I have a fair bit of woodruff in my garden, if you want it. I know this is a year later, and you’ve probably found it, but if you haven’t, then I’ve got it. 🙂 e-mail me! 🙂
Greetings!
If you ever come down to Santa Cruz, We have plenty of Sweet Woodruff here! Say the word & I’ll get you a few plants & save for when you drive down this way!
Peace & blessed bees,
Danu 831-338-4205
Great Post thank you, Woodruff 😀 mmm…..
thought you might enjoy my Beltane Blessing machinima film
Bright Blessings
elf ~
Thank you for sharing your beautiful video…I do envy your skills at creating such – I’m still intimidated by the iMovie program on my MacBook.
Blessings!
Hey.
I’m also looking for sweet woodruff, but as a concentrated food flavor. So far without any luck…
Anyways, if you want a good woodruff taste to your may wine, there is an easier way than real woodruff plants.
The website germanshop24.com has a sweet woodruff syrup which is excellent for mixing drinks. That’s actually the same stuff that they use in Germany to do the may wine… And I know for sure since I’m 100% German and lived there till I was 27… 😉