Angelica Root Essential Oil

Believed by some botanists to be from Syria, it is sometimes found in cold and moist places in Scotland, but is more abundant in places further north such as Lapland or Iceland. In many London parks and squares, however, Angelica has continued to grow, self grown, for generations. Many see it as a useful foliage but there are just as many who see it as no more than an intruding weed.
There are more than thirty varieties of Angelica growing in the world, with China having at least ten of these which are used for various medicinal purposes. Dong Quai is one of these and is used as an alternative to artificial hormones during the menopause.
There are no traditional uses of Angelica recorded, however medieval and renaissance herbalists noted the blood purifying powers of angelica and was also used as a cure for “poisons, agues and all infectious maladies”.
A perhaps more contemporary and popular use for it is in gin, where is the main flavouring after juniper berries. It is also widely used in other liqueurs such as Benedictine, Cointreau, Vermouth and Chartreuse.