Foraging Hop Shoots- Health Benefits and Recipes
- victoria ward
- Mar 31
- 6 min read
Hops (Humulus lupulus) had reached British shores by the end of the 15th century when they first began to be cultivated in Kent's famous Hop Fields. This ancient plant, believed to have originated in Egypt, had a history and life long before cultivation for the flavouring of beer and was a valued edible and medicinal plant throughout much of the world. The 19th century was the 'golden age' of hop cultivation in England and hops became a hugely important commercial crop.
The wild hops we now see in our hedgerows are most likely escapees from commercial crops or from monasteries where monks used hops in brewing to preserve their ales.
Hops are a trendy restaurant ingredient often commanding suprisingly high prices, they have long been known as 'poor man's asparagus' as they resemble the form and texture of asparagus spears and emerge at about the same time.
In herbal medicine hop flowers or cones are usually used to make tinctures and other products as they have much higher concentrations of bitter resins and essential oils than other parts of the plant. Hop shoots however do contain many beneficial compounds including humulones and lupulones so can be used much like the cones but expect a gentler action.
For more information and recipes for Hops (shoots and flowers) please refer to my previous post What Can I Make With Hops?- Hops Recipes and Foraging Autumn Hedgerows-Healing Powers At Your Fingertips- Part Two- Hops
How To Forage Hop Shoots
Hops are found in hedgerows where they climb from the ground up through the hawthorn or whichever hedge species or trees they can use as leverage. They are incredible climbers and will aim for the top, erupting into a mass of flowers late in the summer.
You will see the remains of the previous years growth above the new shoots, woody old twined vines as you can see from the video below. The fresh, young shoots emerge with the old ones behind them remaining to provide more structure
I think the hop shoots are quite distinctive and not easily mixed up with much else.
When picking the shoots aim to pinch off the top three inches as these will be the most tender, the shoots become more fibrous and tough as they grow taller.
Hop Shoot Health Benefits
Hops- Relaxant Sedative Properties
In herbal medicine Hops has long been valued as a relaxant sedative with centuries use as a treatment for insomnia and nervous tension. Hops are antispasmodic- useful for tension and constriction and have a history of use for digestive issues and headaches associated with nervous tension.
Hops And Gut Health
Hop shoots are high in fibre and act as a bitter, digestive tonic. Their antioxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory actions are very beneficial for gut health.
The anti-microbial activity of hops can help regulate the microbiota in such a way as to reduce the inflammation associated with metabolic syndrome.
The prebiotic fibre they contain has been shown to improve glucose regulation and metabolism.
A compound xanthohumol and its derivative TXN act in a specific way to target the opportunistic Oscillibacter valericigenes species of microbes in the gut, these microbes can be pro-inflammatory and promote inflammation of the adipose tissue and macrophage cells in the immune system.
The metabolic changes associated with obesity can create a vicious cycle as glucose metabolism becomes faulty, resulting in sugar storage rather than energy creation. Disregulated glucose metabolism can then affect brain physiology and is the root of the development of metabolic conditions including heart disease and diabetes.
High fat diets promote Oscillibacter valericigenes and the inflammation of fatty tissues, TXN has been shown to reduce their population.
Hops As Potent Phytoestrogens
Hops are known to contain one of the most potent phytoestrogens available called 8-prenylnaringenin or 8-PN. These flavonoids are usually associated with the flower cones where they will be most concentrated but are found in lupulin glands throughout the plant including the young shoots.
The oestrogenic action of hops has long been recognised, 8-PN binds to oestrogen receptors and activates them, mimicking oestrogen and helping to reduce menopausal symptoms.
Hop Shoot Actions
The active compounds in hops are the phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and bitter acids (humulones and lupulones)
Analgesic
Antimicrobial
Antirheumatic
Antispasmodic
Astringent
Bitter
Cholagogue and cholerectic
Diuretic
Relaxant
Sedative
Trophorestorative
Hops are cooling and astringent.
Cautions
Contraindicated in depression,
How To Use Hop Shoots Medicinally
Hop shoots can be prepared as an infusion as you would use the flowers.
Hops Infusion Recipe
Place a handful of shoots in a teapot and pour over boiling water, leave to infuse for 10-15 mins. Drink in the evening to aid sleep.
If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms Hop infusion can be drunk cool to help manage hot flushes (be aware of of sleepiness if using in the daytime)
Cosmetic Uses Of Hops
Hops can be used in cosmetic formulations and are often used for their anti-microbial action which helps as a preservative. The ability of hop extracts to get rid of harmful bacteria is also extremely useful in the treatment of acne.
Hops extract can help preserve moisture in the skin and remove the layer of dead skin cells to renew the complexion
See my previous post for a discussion of the cosmetic uses of Hops What Can I Make With Hops?- Hops Recipes
Hop Shoot Recipes
Hop shoots are very easy to prepare and cook, as I said earlier the tops are the best. The taste is really good being a balance between slightly bitter and aromatically sweet. Hop shoots are often compared to asparagus as they have a good texture, if lightly cooked they retain some crunch.
There are endless ways to enjoy hop shoots, they compliment cheese and eggs well, they are great in pasta dishes and can be fermented and pickled. Serve as a side dish as you would asparagus.
Hop Shoots Sauteed In Butter And Garlic
Heat some butter and crushed garlic in a pan, you can add Wild Garlic too if you have some. Add your foraged hop shoot tops and toss in the butter, cook for 5- 8 mins and serve as a side dish.
Hop Shoots With Bacon And Potatoes
6-8 new potatoes halved or sliced
Olive oil
knob butter
2 rashers of smoked streaky bacon chopped
Handful of chopped Hop Shoots
Salt & pepper
Par boil potatoes 10 mins
Heat the olive oil and butter
Fry the bacon until cooked
Add the potatoes and fry until they are browning
Add the hop shoots and fry for 5 min
Season and serve
Hop Shoot Frittata
This recipes is taken from Alan Bergo, you will see it contains chive blossoms which are not currently flowering, I think Wild Garlic or Three-cornered Leek Blooms would work beautifully.
Author: Alan Bergo
Equipment
1 10 inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
2 oz fresh hop shoots tender portions only
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
2 oz bacon optional
¼ cup heavy cream or half and half
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons fresh cut chives or a combination of fresh chopped herbs like parsley, chives, dill, cilantro, etc
Chive blossoms to garnish, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 300. Beat the eggs, chopped herbs, a pinch of salt and pepper, and the cream and reserve. In a 10 inch cast iron skillet or similar, heat the bacon and render the fat.
When the bacon fat is rendered out, add the hop shoots, cover the pan and cook on medium heat, just to wilt them. Season with a touch of salt.
Add the egg-herb mix and cook, stirring and twirling the pan around to distribute the egg.
Put the pan in the oven for just a minute or two to dry out the top, and serve immediately just as the egg finishes setting. Garnish with the chive blossoms, if using.
Notes
Hop shoots are great here, but chopped fiddleheads and ramp leaves make a good version too. Make sure to blanch fiddleheads for a couple minutes in boiling salted water if you use them.
Nutrition
Serving: 5oz | Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 190mg | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 569IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg
Hop Shoot Omelette
I made a quick Hop Shoot Omelette and added a handful of wild ingredients I had to hand
Olive oil
Knob of butter
2 eggs beaten and seasoned
Few spears of Hop Shoots chopped
Chopped Wild Garlic leaves
Three-cornered Leek Flowers
Heat oil and butter
Add chopped wild garlic and Three-cornered Leek stems
Add chopped Hop Shoots
Cook 2 mins
Pour in seasoned eggs
Sprinkle on Three-cornered Leek Flowers
Cook 5 mins then serve
Comments