Hops

Hops are a perennial plant of the Cannabaceae family, native to Europe and Asia. It is best known for its use in beer production, where it is used to give beer its bitter taste and strong aromatic smell. Hops are grown for their female buds, which are harvested before they bloom, and dried to make them cones (cones) of oil used in the brewery.

Hops have been grown for millennia, but it was only in the Middle Ages that it became a major ingredient in beer, before that beer was brewed with various plants and local ingredients. Hops are also used to flavour other fermented beverages such as cider, and are even used to flavour certain dishes such as sausages and sauce dishes. The main components of hops that are used in brewing are essential oil, which gives beer its aroma and bitter flavour, and aromatic compounds that give beer its flavor and aroma. Hops also contain resins and tannins that help clarify beer and preserve its freshness.