Absinthe Absinthe Absinthe

[skow69]

No kidding! At what stage to you cut off the flower balls?

[rubber duck]

I cut them just ass they start to drop off the ball. I'm looking at one right now that must be 5 years old. They like a lot of water and kelp fertilizer, works for me anyhow.

[skow69]

So you get to harvest the seeds and preserve the plant as well. It don't get any better than that.

[rubber duck]

Ya I've never used the foliage, how do most folks use it?

[skow69]

I have substituted leaves for seeds and root. Actually I got started that way when I first ordered Angelica from Kirko and he sent the foliage. I think the flavors are similar but leaves are less intense.

You don't want to base any recipe development on my assessment. I know what I like but I don't have the vocabulary, and maybe the palate, to describe it. I know, practice, practice, practice.

[sweeps]

All parts of the angelica plant have an identifiable angelica flavour. The stems and foliage usually have the lightest flavor. The roots have the strongest flavor, but with strong earthy undertones. The seed (actually, it's fruit rather than seed, to be pedantic) has the best flavor, in my opinion, sweeter with subtle floral high notes.

So, cheater's guide: root = earthy, seed = floral, bits in between = flavor somewhere in between.

Additionally, as well as bringing its own flavors to the party, angelica acts as a fixative. At least the root and seed do - not sure about the leaves and stems.

[rubber duck]

Look at what I found going wild on my lunch break. I got cell service for a second and stopped to call the boss, figured what the hell good as place as any to eat lunch. Then I ran into a bunch of wild Angelica. The view isn't bad either. That's outside of Mendocino if any of you absinthe freaks care to go on a hunt.

[skow69]

Score! Lucky duck! I put in two new plants--in the back, out of sight of the road.

[sweeps]

Mendocino's a bit too far away for me. A shame, as I have it on good authority that there life's such a groove, you'll blow your mind in the morning.

My angelica looks like crap right now, as it's trying to recover from celery fly damage. My lovage looks even worse.

[rubber duck]

I'm going to pull mine up now that I've found an unlimited suply, I picked half a sack full of seats this afternoon.

Ya the redwoods out here are pretty amazing, I see them all day long so I kinda take it for granted.