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Sweetgale (myrica gale)


$9.50

Sweetgale, also known as "northern nutmeg", is a small shrub whose leaves are covered in resin, which has earned it the French nickname "bois sent-bon", meaning "good-smelling wood". It generally grows along lakes and rivers. It is the catkin (male flower) that's generally used for cooking.

With a beautiful color ranging from pale green to burnt orange, the catkins are very aromatic and will remind beer lovers of hops. In the Middle Ages, sweet gale was even used in the making of beer, a tradition called "gruit", which some brewers have revived in recent years.

Its taste is camphorous, resinous, peppery, woody and bitter. It can also be reminiscent of fir, bay leaf and nutmeg. This spice from Québec is very complex and intensely perfumed.

Not recommended for pregnant women.
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Preparation

Sweet gale is excellent for flavouring broths and stews, rice dishes, game meat (or lamb) and terrines. It can be made into a very aromatic rub in combination with other spices. It is sometimes even suggested to use it as a substitute for black pepper. We recommend crushing it between your fingers before grinding it in a mortar and adding it at the end of cooking to extract all the flavour without the bitterness. It is best not to put it in a spice grinder; its resin could damage the mechanism. Be careful with the dosage - a little goes a long way! It is therefore best to start with a small amount and add more as needed. It can also be consumed as a (quite bitter) infusion - according to certain traditions of indigenous peoples, this infusion is used to invite lucid dreams.

Flavor Pairings

Sweet gale is an excellent companion to citrus fruits, dried apricots, artichokes, avocados and grains, such as rice or barley.

Origin

Product of Québec

Conservation

As it is a dried boreal spice, sweet gale can be stored almost indefinitely, but it is recommended to enjoy it within 12 months (or as soon as possible!) of purchase in order to fully appreciate its flavors.

Ingredients
  • Sweetgale catkins
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Customer Reviews

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M
Michelle L.
Sweet gale

Simply delicious, enhances the flavor without overpowering it.

Thank you Michelle, it’s nice that you enjoyed the unique flavors of sweet gale!

We are transforming local culinary culture

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The North,

It is the land here that nourishes us, from the forests to the fields to the Saint-Lawrence. It is our connection to the cycle of the seasons.

It is a community of farmers, fishermen and artisans who put their know-how at the service of our food and our gourmet pleasures.

In return, we highlight the fruit of their work through the exceptional condiments that we create and our selection of local products, in a spirit of short supply chain and respect for the environment