Description
Hyssop is a wild or cultivated shrub native to western Asia; it also
grows in the arid and rocky areas of southern Europe. The plant
exhibits short, branched rhizomes, opposite leaves, and violet flowers that blossom from July to August. It is 25 to 70 cm (9 to 26
in.) high and has a pleasant, aromatic odor. The parts used are the
leaves and flowering tops.
The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and
flowers in low yields (0.15 to 0.30%). It is a pale-yellow liquid
exhibiting a herbaceous, camphor-like odor. The oil contains aand |3-pinene, camphene, hyssopin, and possibly some terpenes,
sesquiterpenes, and their alcohols.
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 0.1% with 3% sugar: sweet, brown, malty, fruity and winy.
