It's pick-up week for the Ice Cream Adventure Club! Members can pick up their goodies at the Scoop Shop during all open hours, or at the Test Kitchen from 4-6:30pm on Thursday, Jan 18! We can't wait to meet you all!
We've emailed out some information about this month's flavors. Here's some even more info -- The Botanist's Notes!
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Meet the stars of this month’s Adventure Club: rosemary and turmeric! In terms of taste, these flavors offer a beautiful contrast. Rosemary is known for its sharp, light, freshness; this plant originated in the ocean-kissed climes of the Mediterranean coast (its Latin name, Rosmarinus, means “dew of the sea”). Turmeric, on the other hand, is an embodiment of earthiness. The edible portion of this plant grows underground in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, and is prized for its warm taste and vibrant yellow-orange color.
ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis)
WHAT: a woody evergreen shrub. The leaves, stems, and flower parts are used to season food and add aroma to soaps, candles, and more.
WHERE: native to the Mediterranean, but a popular garden plant in temperate regions around the world. Its resistance to pests and droughts make it relatively hardy.
COOL FACTS:
Rosemary essential oil contains 10-20% camphor, which is an antimicrobial compound that is also toxic to some insects. For this reason, rosemary has been used as a repellent and preservative since ancient times.
In European folklore, it is traditionally associated with improved memory and was used to memorialize the deceased. Rosemary even got a shoutout from Shakespeare: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance” (Hamlet, iv. 5:).
TURMERIC (Curcuma longa):
WHAT: a perennial flowering plant. The part of the plant used for coloring and flavoring is a type of underground stem called a rhizome.
WHERE: originated in tropical zones throughout India and nearby regions, but is also cultivated in the Caribbean and Latin America.
COOL FACTS:
In addition to its culinary uses, turmeric has been used to dye fabric.
Turmeric has played a role in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Symptoms it was used to treat include throat infection, indigestion, and the common cold.
Today, scientists are studying the potential medicinal properties of turmeric. While not much has been conclusively determined about the health benefits of the plant, it does seem like a promising lead due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Graphics by Morgan Weimer