Vita Verde Organic Wild Garlic Pesto

Have you ever heard of buckrams, broad-leaved garlic or bear leek? The combination could come from the herbal collection of a druid. In fact, all the names belong to the same plant. Most of us know it as ramson. It was already very popular in antiquity as a healing and spice plant. Unlike the botanical relatives garlic and onion, ramson did not have to be brought over the Alps by the Romans. It was already native in most of Central Europe. Its Latin name Allium ursinum means ”garlic suitable for bears“. Presumably the name derives from the bears, who first ate this plant after their winter sleep. Another theory assumes that Celts and Germans believed that the energy of bears was within these plants. In their cultures, the latter was regarded as a original being and was worshiped as an important power animal. It is reported by the Celts that their warriors ate wild garlic leaves before they went to battle. The plant was not only said to have curing but also magical powers. In the Middle Ages, people were trying to fend off witches, snakes, or evil spirits by hanging ramson leaves over doors and windows.

In parts of Thuringia, until the beginning of the twentieth century the “Ramschelfest“, which means “ramson festival“, was celebrated. On Sunday before Walpurgis Night the population went into the forests in order to collect “Ramschel“ (German for ramson). Subsequently the people decorated themselves with the leaves, moved back to the villages and danced and drank. Wild garlic had to be collected before Walpurgis by all means. According to popular belief, the healing powers of many plants were destroyed by the witches in the Walpurgis Night from 30 April to 1 May. However, there is also an entirely non-mystical reason for the ideal date of the ramson harvest. At the end of April wild garlic reaches its flowering season and thus the maximum of active ingredients.

For the Romans ramson was a special healing herb (”Herba salutaris“), and the herbalists of the ancient Greeks had already passed on its effectiveness. Among them it was allegedly referred to as “heroes herb“. Therefore also the Roman doctors recommended it against a large number of diseases. In the time of Rome's prosperity it was possible to obtain ramson in every province of the empire. After the fall of Rome, Charles the Great made sure that wild garlic was not forgotten. He gave the order to cultivate wild garlic in all imperial gardens in his Capitulare de villis of 812 AD. In the High Middle Ages medicinal and spice plants were cultivated mainly in the cloister gardens. But the ramson was not particularly popular there, because it was regarded as fertility-promoting, and was also suspected of increasing sensuality. The monks did not want to mislead anyone to fornication with their herbs. In addition, herbs from the Mediterranean region were considered as superior in principle compared to the ones from the German area. They were therefore often neglected in favor of tarragon, thyme, oregano and co. From the 16th century, ramson was almost entirely replaced by garlic. For some years, however, it has been celebrating a culinary comeback.

The specialties of Vita Verde Heldenkraut (German for heroes herb) are all about the aromatic tuber. Three splendid pesto varieties in raw food quality refine pasta, rice or vegetable dishes with incomparable taste nuances. In the Organic Wild Garlic and Tomato Pesto, the intense taste of wild mountain ramson is combined with the mild-flavored aroma of dried tomatoes. High-quality olive oil and Alexander's salt round off the creation and make the pesto a versatile companion in the kitchen. Do you like to eat hot stuff? Then try the variety Organic Wild Garlic and Chili with spicy-hot chili. If you prefer fruity notes, you should get to know the Organic Wild Garlic and Cranberry Pesto: Strong mountain wild garlic from a certified wild harvesting meets tart-sweet cranberries and becomes a spice sauce with olive oil. Since the pesto creations are processed below 42°C, you can enjoy the most original taste of fine wild garlic with Vita Verde Heldenkraut. Enjoy.