Hyssop seeds

HYSSOP - 50 Seeds

Hyssopus officinalis

HYSSOP is an aromatic bushy plant with small leaves and tiny flowers along the stems. Young leaves have a bitter minty flavour. Plant grows to a height of 50 - 60cm.

Cooled hyssop tea is a refreshing and cleansing facial rinse. As noted above, beekeepers use hyssop to create an aromatic honey. Hyssop is described as having a strong, but refreshing minty taste, and as having an ‘interesting taste’, due to its strong, bitter flavour.

Hyssop can be made into a relaxing herbal tea by taking a teaspoon of dried leaves or flowers and allowing them to steep in 250 mls of hot water. You can add honey to flavour or remove the bitterness. For a lighter herbal tea, try adding lemon balm or spearmint to hyssop.

Hyssop has many active ingredients and contains terpenes, volatile oils and flavonoids. It also contains the chemicals thujone and phenol, which have antiseptic properties. Thujone also stimulates the nervous system and can result in epileptic fits if taken in high doses. In children, even a small amount can cause fitting and should be completely avoided. Pregnant women should also avoid hyssop due to the risk of miscarriage.

Propagation notes will be supplied with seed packet.