Sweetgrass
스위트그라스 / 바이슨 그라스
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Photo: Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Original file (Wikimedia Commons)
The single blade of grass inside a bottle of the Polish vodka Żubrówka is this grass. Dried, it has a sweet aroma of vanilla and freshly cut hay. It's named bison grass because European bison love it.
Please read before eating. This herb needs some care. See cautions
Flavor and aroma
- It has a sweet aroma like vanilla, hay, almond and cinnamon.
- It's more about aroma than taste.
Fun facts
- Its former genus name, Hierochloe, means "holy grass."
- The Polish name Żubrówka comes from żubr, meaning bison. It's the grass eaten by the European bison living in Poland's Białowieża Forest.
- Because of the aroma compound coumarin, imports of traditionally made Żubrówka have been banned in the US since 1978, so the American version is flavored another way.
- Many Native American peoples have long used it in ceremonies and daily life.
In the kitchen
Drinks
- In Russia it was used to flavor tea.
Alcohol
- Infuse it in vodka for flavor. In Poland it's drunk mixed with apple juice as a "szarlotka," or poured over vanilla ice cream.
Desserts
- In northern Europe it has been used to flavor baked goods.
Tips
- Fresh grass has little aroma; drying brings it out.
Season
We're still checking the season. We'll add it once we find a source.
Details
- Korean name
- 스위트그라스 / 바이슨 그라스
- English names
- sweetgrass, bison grass, holy grass, vanilla grass
- Scientific name
- Anthoxanthum nitens
- Former scientific names
- Hierochloe odorata
- Family
- Poaceae
- Genus
- Anthoxanthum
Cautions
It contains coumarin, the same compound as in sweet woodruff, which can harm the liver in large amounts. Use only a small amount for flavor.
Show sources for this page
References for this herb
- Wikipedia(Hierochloe odorata, Żubrówka)
- Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails
- Difford's Guide
- VinePair
Name and classification
Photo
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Original file (Wikimedia Commons)