”Long before before the image of a witch with tall pointy hats & a bubbling cauldron women were the original brewers. In medieval Europe, “alewives” brewed beer at home, selling it to their neighbours. Their tall pointed hats made them stand out in the marketplace, cats kept grain-eating mice away, and their cauldrons? Perfect for brewing. Sound familiar?
GeorgeFlavour Fred
Herbs like Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) & Ale Hoof (Glechoma hederacea -not featured) and others were used to bitter the beer. Around the 14th century the church became significant brewers an income was drawn used in many ways. Around this period many women were accused of witchcraft because of the unusual effects of brews (and other items). This was also impacted by a lack of understanding of the species of Ergot (Claviceps spp. 50+ currently known) and most prominent Claviiceps purpurea. Ergot is found infecting cereals and grasses, most commonly affecting rye, triticale, wheat, and barley, but it can also infect other grains like oats, sorghum, and millet, as well as many wild and cultivated grasses. The fungus produces dark, horn-like structures called sclerotia in place of the healthy grain, which contain toxic alkaloids that are poisonous to humans and livestock.
Poisonous brews sending people mad dancing for days feeling no pain and other strange goings on became blamed on the herbalists (labelled witches) and they were killed. The real reason being Ergot fungus contains a number of highly poisonous and psychoactive alkaloids, including lysergic acid (LSD), which was synthesized from the ergot fungus in 1938 by chemist, Albert Hoffmann. Ergot poisoning is a proposed explanation of bewitchment. A lot of knowledge was sadly lost because of this. This was due to a lack of understanding but also many other cereals and outputs were impacted by this poisonous fungus Ergot.
