Page 18 - Baking Europe Journal - Winter 2022

INGREDIENTS
18 MEDICINAL HERBS

For instance, herbs containing bitter principles (alkaloids
and terpenoids) such as ginkgo leaf and Californian
poppy, or notably astringent herbs such as
meadowsweet, would probably not have a satisfactory
taste when baked in bread; indeed, many herbs fall
into such a category.

Stark bitterness is a useful taste in herbal medicines, but it
is seemingly out of general fashion among flavours today.
Safety issues also abound, for example any herb which
might cause harm to those who are pregnant must be
ruled out. Other examples include high levels of celery
seed powder, as this seed can interfere with the
metabolism of certain drugs, or herbs likely to cause
herb-drug interaction, such as the effect red clover flowers
has on anti-coagulant medication. Another factor is
adulteration: substitutes for authentic skullcap (Scutellaria Gotu cola (Centella asiatica) is a well-known healer in
lateriflora), a useful relaxant herb, are very frequently the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. It is a
found in supply chains.
rejuvenative tonic, which improves mental function
when under stress. Although the taste is at first bitter, it
Coming back to the current list of leading medicinal quickly gives way to an aromatic sweetness and in Asia
plants in the UK, herbalists’ repository and other sources, it is widely and safely consumed as a vegetable.
I would like to suggest the following herbs, which Herbalists’ dosage range is from 3 to 30g of the dried
perhaps do not readily come to mind for baking, as leaf daily.
worthy of investigation.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a calming mood- Lime (Tilia spp.) is a common tree which flowers
enhancing herb which improves digestion. The leaves around July. The flowers (and their leaf-like bracts) are
were once cooked to enhance the flavour of dishes; used in an infusion very popular in France (tisane de
now an infusion of the dried leaves (3-12g daily) is a tilleul) to reduce stress and anxiety and for colds. The
common method of taking this safe herbal medicine tree is included in official European herbal monographs
often found in gardens. and the dosage range is 2-10g daily.

BAKINGEUROPE Winter 2022/2023
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