Gruit Ale
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Frank Colombo
Posted on: November 25, 1999

I am thinking about making a Griut Ale. I need some help finding the ingredients:

1. Bog myrtle, sweet gale (Myrica Gale);

2. Wild rosemary, marsh rosemary (Ledum palustre);

3. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

Unfortunately, yarrow is the only ingredient we can supply (#7000).

Myrica Gale is found in swamps and along streams from Newfoundland to Alaska, southern New York, Virginia, Michigan and Washington, as well as in Europe and Asia. It ascends to 3000 feet in the Adirondecks, USA. I am pretty sure that I have seen it in Algonquin park. However, picking things in a park is illegal, but outside the park in similar areas it would be OK - if you have the landowners permission. I wonder if you could substitute Myrica pennsylvanica, the species we do offer? (#1298)

Ledum palustre, now called Ledum decumbens with the common name of narrow leaved Labrador tea is found in bogs from Newfoundland to Maine and Quebec and west to Alaska. It is also found in northern Asia. I wonder if you could substitute Ledum groenlandicum, Labrador tea, since that is easier to find. I have found it in Algonquin and Quetico parks.

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