The History of Hyssop

Hyssop comes from the hyssop plant, which is part of the mint family and native to the Middle East and Southeastern Europe. Its leaves have a sweet flavor similar to licorice. It is mentioned in the Bible and was used by ancient civilizations. During the Middle Ages, hyssop was regularly used as a culinary ingredient and was particularly popular as a flavoring for soups and stuffing. Over time, it fell out of favor as a culinary flavoring but is still used for distilling liqueurs like Chartreuse. Some people believe hyssop may help address a variety of cosmetic and health concerns. For these applications, it is typically used in oil form (hyssop leaves release oil when chopped or crushed). Hyssop oil is also sometimes included in soaps today.