Dried Sweet Gale (Myrica gale)

Its distinctive aromatic character makes it a sought-after ingredient for culinary applications, infusions, aromatic blends, and the development of flavour signatures inspired by the boreal terroir.

Aromatic Profile: Resinous • Bay Leaf • Coniferous • Candied Fruit • Spicy • Woody • Bitterness

Sweet Gale is an emblematic shrub of boreal wetland ecosystems, naturally growing near lakes, rivers, and peatlands of Northern Quebec. Recognizable by its intensely aromatic resinous foliage, it is sometimes nicknamed “sweet-scented wood” because of its distinctive fragrance.

Its dried catkins reveal a rich and complex aromatic profile, bringing together resinous, woody, slightly camphoraceous and bitter notes, reminiscent of bay leaf and conifers, complemented by a surprising facet evoking candied fruits. Some also perceive nuances of hops, nutmeg, and boreal spices.

Historically used in the making of “gruit”, an aromatic botanical blend once used to flavour certain beers before hops became widely adopted, Sweet Gale is now experiencing renewed interest among food artisans and creators of natural flavour profiles.