Released in the winter of 2009, Dandelion & Burdock Bitters are a unique, h&-crafted cocktail ingredient created by Adam Elmegirab to satisfy the global bar community's growing demand for new & exciting products.
Dandelion & Burdock is a traditional British beverage dating back to the 1300s & is believed to have been created by the Italian priest Saint Thomas Aquinas. They were famed for their alleged medicinal properties, like the many cocktail bitters that followed in later years, & were a favourite drink of Adam during his childhood.
Referencing a number of Dandelion & Burdock receipts, these bitters attempt to capture their flavour profile in bitters formulae. Compounded using the finest natural botanicals, these bitters are now being used by bartenders around the globe in a number of classic cocktails & original libations such as the Chiapas Old Fashioned, created by Adam Elmegirab for Yatai in 2009.
A note from Dr Adam Elmegirab
The growth of the internet has coincided with an increased want for information from bothbartenders & consumers alike. With the release of my Bitters Product Portfolio at thetail-end of 2010, which detailed the production process of my bitters as well as tasting notes, I have had numerous requests for more information on the botanicals I use to compound my bottlings.
Having thought long & hard about ways in which I could improve the product knowledge of my bitters I decided it would be a good idea to compile detailed information on all thebotanicals I use so you can understand a little more about ingredients you will have heardof but may never come into contact with, have a better grasp of where the flavour profile comes from, & also gain a deeper knowledge of each botanical's historical & medicinalrelevance.
This goes against the philosophy of many bitters producers who wish to remain assecretive as possible, which in my opinion detracts from the full potential of bitters andtheir vast array of uses in both the culinary & cocktail crafts. By releasing thisinformation I feel that bartenders & consumers will be better equipped to use mybottlings to their full potential...
Dandelion root
Medicinal uses
- Dandelion roots are commonly used to stimulate appetite, digestion & improvethe function of the liver & kidney & also as an anti-viral agent.
Taste
- Malt, honey, toasted bread & muscavado.
Burdock root
Medicinal uses
- Burdock root contains polyacetylenes that gives the herb its antibacterial andantifungal properties & like Dandelion roots they are commonly used to stimulate appetite, digestion & improve the function of the liver & kidney.
Taste
- Slightly sweet, earthy, woody, with notes of smoked tea, dark chocolate & liquorice.
Fresh ginger root
Medicinal uses
- Ginger root is widely used to prevent & treat nausea & vomiting brought aboutby motion sickness. It is also used to treat migraines, as an anti-inflammatory, to aid digestion & isknown to stimulate saliva. It has also been suggested that ginger root may assist in loweringcholesterol.
Taste
- Aromatic, pungent, sweet & spicy.
Dried orange peel
Medicinal uses
- Whole orange peel contains compounds that lower blood pressure as well as asubtle bitterness that stimulates appetite. Rich in vitamin C it is also recommended in fighting coughs & colds as well as being used as an aromatic & flavour enhancer in medicine.
Taste
- Dominant orange & subtle woodiness with a perfumed backbone.
Dried lemon peel
Medicinal uses
- Lemon peel is recognised as an aromatic & flavour enhancer in medicine. Rich invitamin C it is also recommended in fighting coughs & colds as well as being a stomach tonic insettling flatulence
Taste
- Dominant lemon, almost soap-like, with a soft woody finish.
Star Anise
Medicinal uses
- Star Anise is used in the production of Tamiflu, the only drug known to reduce theseverity of Bird Flu. It also has carminative, stomachic, stimulant & diuretic properties & is used torelieve headaches.
Taste
- A subtle sweet combination of licorice, aniseed, fennel & tarragon.