Common hop, Humulus lupulus, is a climbing plant whose characteristic female inflorescences are commonly called cones. Within them are glands containing an aromatic and bitter material called lupulin. Hops have a long history in herbal medicine, and have become particularly recognizable thanks to brewing.
Characteristics and context
Hop is a dioecious plant: male and female flowers appear on different individuals. Recognizable cones are associated with female inflorescences. Within them there are glands that produce a material called lupulin. This helps explain why it is so important to indicate the part of the plant, and not just the name Humulus lupulus, in raw material descriptions. The leaf, shoot and cone do not constitute one material with an identical profile.
Interest in hops developed especially in brewing, where its bitterness and aroma were appreciated. Varieties and methods of preparing the raw material were selected for various tasks. The compounds responsible for bitterness and volatile aromatic components belong to different parts of the profile. An intensely scented material does not have to have the same characteristics as the variety chosen primarily for its bitterness. These distinctions describe the properties of the raw material, not recommendations for using the supplement.
Meaning and application
Dried, powdered material and extracts can be found in plant products. The solvent and process conditions influence which compounds enter the extract. If a DER is given, it is a ratio of starting material to extract, not a simple action multiplier. Standardization, if declared, answers a separate question about the content of the determined compound or group of compounds. It is worth reading this data together with the actual amount of material in the recommended portion.
In practice
Hops as a recipe ingredient does not mean the presence of beer or alcohol. On the other hand, the history of the plant's use is not enough to attribute the properties of any infusion, extract or drink to the finished capsule. A reliable description retains the botanical name, part of the plant, form and parameters of the preparation. This allows you to compare similar materials without repeating general associations about tradition or judging quality simply by the large number on the packaging.