Wormwood – an exceptionally bitter plant with a long history

Wormwood is one of those plants whose character is unmistakable: Artemisia absinthium, its botanical name, is known for its distinctively bitter taste. Yet, the plant is not just botanically interesting. It is also closely linked to a special chapter in European culinary and cultural history—absinthe.

Reason enough to get to know wormwood a little better.

How do you identify wormwood?

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae). The perennial plant usually grows upright and branched. It is characterized by its greyish, felted leaves and stems, as well as the small yellow flower heads that appear in summer.

In Switzerland, wormwood can be found on roadsides and in ruderal areas, among other places. Its natural range extends far beyond Switzerland and encompasses large parts of Europe and Asia, as well as parts of North Africa.

A plant with a decidedly bitter character

One of the most striking features of wormwood is its intense bitter taste. The Swiss plant database InfoFlora also explicitly describes the plant as having a bitter taste.

"Bitter" initially refers to a taste quality. Along with sweet, sour, salty, and umami, bitter is one of the basic tastes that humans can perceive.

How intensely we perceive bitterness and whether we find it pleasant or unpleasant varies from person to person. Wormwood is undoubtedly one of the plants with a particularly pronounced bitter flavor profile.

Wormwood and absinthe – a famous connection

Wormwood has become particularly famous for its association with absinthe. The spirit has a long history that is closely linked to the Swiss Val-de-Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel. The region is considered the historical cradle of modern absinthe.

Wormwood is one of the characteristic plants used in the production of absinthe. Depending on the recipe, other herbs and spices are also used alongside it.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, absinthe became a well-known beverage and also found its way into art and culture. In Switzerland, its production and sale were prohibited for decades. Since 2005, absinthe has been allowed to be produced and sold again in compliance with current legal requirements.

What is thujone?

In the context of wormwood, one often encounters the term thujone. This is a naturally occurring plant substance that can be found in wormwood, among other things.

Thujone became known particularly through the history of absinthe. Legal requirements and maximum levels now apply to certain foods and beverages. This clearly regulates the amounts of the substance that are permitted in specific food categories.

A plant between botany and cultural history

Wormwood shows how much history can be hidden behind a single plant. Its silvery-grey appearance, its decidedly bitter taste, and its close connection to the history of absinthe make Artemisia absinthium a remarkable plant.

At the same time, wormwood is a beautiful example of how plants can become part of our history through taste, regional traditions, and food culture.

Sources and further information

• InfoFlora / Flora Helvetica: Artemisia absinthium L. – Wormwood. Botanical description, habitat, and distribution in Switzerland.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online: Artemisia absinthium L.. Taxonomy and natural distribution.
• SWI swissinfo.ch: Absinthe: The return of the Green Fairy. Background on the history of absinthe and the Val-de-Travers.
• Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) / Swiss food law: current regulations on flavorings and naturally occurring flavoring substances in food.