PlantStories: The Modern, the old, and the crazy in between! – Details, episodes & analysis

A most famous flower hailing from Europe that is often used to represent a budding spring, Daffodils have been a staple decorative flower.  With little to no healing properties, it is somewhat surprising that this trumpet shaped bulb broke through the scene, but it's strength of will during cold seasons had made it a symbol of hope and prosperity.  Join us today as we discuss the daffodil.

Traveling around most of the European and even some of the Asian and African continents, the daffodil comes in a surprising amount of sizes and varieties.  It's probably most well known for it's official name that comes from the Greek myth about Narcissus.  Interesting how the Greeks have so much say in our flower culture!  Come sit with us as we talk about some of the more modern meanings of this beautiful flower, where it comes from, and why its still in our consciousness today!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

When you think of garden plants, one of the first plants that probably comes to mind is the Garden Pansy, a three toned flower that often adorns outdoor landscaping spaces and Lowes stores.  And you'd be right to think that, because this flower has been bred for years as a beautiful addition to many home gardens and the subject of many myths.  Come listen to us talk today about the Pansy.

Pansies have been a part of European conciousness for a long time.  Going all the way back to the Greeks and Romans, they are surrounded by myth and curiousity for their cute face like petals.  Their knowledge in cultural conciousness continued throughout many other European cultures and still are often used as a sign of spring.  Known for being a thoughtful plant, it's a common gift for it's cultural meanings and easy care.  There's a lot more to know than you probably think, so we hope you'll enjoy today's episode on the Pansy!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Ever had questions about the beverage referred to as "The Green Fairy"?  The truth is absinthe has quite an exciting history, tied up in war, culture, and murder.  So join us this week as we take a dive into absinthe.

For many people, the idea of Absinthe is probably only a distant memory still shrouded with myth.  Banned in the US until 2007, this green beverage made from the ever popular garden plant wormwood has made a resurgence in more recent times.  While wormwood might be quite unpleasant to drink completely on its own, it's long been known for its medical properties and was often mixed with alcohol or other substances in order to enhance the taste.  So when France needed another beverage to step up it's alcohol game, Absinthe was there to fill the hole.  Join us today as we take a dive into where exactly Absinthe originates, what brought it into high class fame, and where we stand with Absinthe today.

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Oh ho, oh ho, a pirate's life for me!  Take a seat and swig a drink as we talk about the history of the sugarcane and how it pertains to the creation of Rum, one of the finest (and darkest) beverages around.

*It now occurs to me that it's supposed to be Yo Ho... Don't judge me!!*

When sugarcane turned out to produce those beautiful refined sugar crystals, who knew there could be other successful compounds on it's horizon?  Easy to reproduce, and quick to grow it changed the way we cook and eat forever.  But however much one might love sugar and rum, no one can deny it's horrific associations with slavery and colonialism.  Need for this plant, which only increase when Rum began to pick up popularity, spurred on one of our darker points of history.  So what exactly happened that made rum the talk of the town and subsequently part of a ruthless trade?  And what does it have to do with sailors?  Come listen to us talk about Rum today on PlantStories.


Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Most people who've sampled Tequila or Mezcal probably has an inkling that it comes from the Agave plant.  But just what is the agave plant, and how did we get from a large succulent to a clear strong alcohol?  Come party with us this week, as we talk about Tequila and Mezcal!

For thousands of years, people have been using the Agave plant as a raw ingredient in it's native areas of Central America.  In fact, a drink was made from it that had such high importance there was not one, but two, gods that were dedicated to it.  There's much dispute as to exactly how tequila came about, but soon it was one of the most popular spirits in the area.  Now you can find a variety of tequilas and mezcals from their respective areas, and enjoy all different kinds.  We hope you enjoy today's episode as we try to take a deeper look into the origins of this plant, and just how much the drinks related to it have changed over many years!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Brrrrrrandy, you're a fine drink!  What a good time you will be!  A spirit made in many different parts of the world, brandy is another distilled form of alcohol that was popularized in Europe but has probably been around almost as long as distilling.  Join us as we dig into this episode on what constitues as a Brandy and the different kinds you might find throughout the world.

Brandy made from wine?  Brandy made from Apples?  Brandy made from grapes?  What's the difference?  Turns out not as much as you might think based on the variety of names and tastes.  We're going to talk a little bit about why brandy came about and all the different things its made from on this episode.  Unsuprisingly, taxes are involved.  We're also gonna dive into just what brandy comes from what places.  The french aren't the only ones with good alcohol!  Thanks again for joininig us on this week's episode of PlantStories.

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

For this weeks riveting episode of our Alcohol series, we explore just a little bit of the expansive world of Whiskey.  It's been around for a long time, and one of the more popular beverages from the birth of America (among many other things).   Come listen to me say the word whiskey in a bunch of ridiculous ways on today's episode of PlantStories!


Whiskey is a distilled beverage that is made in many parts of the world.  Coming from a similar base as beer but with a much different taste and alcohol content, it's quite an interesting example of how the same ingredients put through a different process can become something totally unique.  Beginning with a history in some parts of Ireland and Scotland (the two groups would continue to argue throughout the ages as to who was the inventor) the beverage eventually spread far and wide becoming one of America's signature drinks.  Today we're going to talk about this drink's history, some of the plants involved, and the types of whiskey you're likely to run into today.

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

Even if you're not an alcohol drinker, you've probably encountered beer because of its permeating presence in many cultures.  It's another one of the top drinks that we consume and there are a ton of different varieties around the world.  Join us as we explore some of the history of beer and the plants involved with it. 

Beer is one of the oldest human made concoctions, and has gone through quite a few transformations in it's time in the human consciousness.  The cereal grains used to make beer malt are some of the oldest in the game and which were used and why vary depending on where you come from.  In America, beer has its own history as well spanning before and after prohibition.  You might surprised to know that Hops wasn't always the primary floral ingredient in beer like it is today.  There's a lot to know about beer, and we hope you'll join us as we talk about it this week!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

On our second Holiday Special of this winter season, join us me as I butcher a bunch of French words trying to educate everyone about Champagne, one of the fanciest wines.

Okay, I'm pretty sure most of us know that Champagne comes from the province of Champagne in France.  But do you know anything about Champagne?  Is it famous for anything other than wine?  And what makes Champagne so special anyway?  Today we are going to look into some of these questions, and answer a few you probably didn't have.  So pour a glass, and say a Cheers for me while we talk about one of the fanciest wines you can buy almost anywhere. 

Happy New Year!

Music Clips by Kevin Macleod at Incompetech https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/

We're getting our cozy winter on, while we talk about the popular winter holiday drink Eggnog.  Turns out it has nothing to do with Yule and is pretty darn American (even if there are some European origins in there).  Join us as we discuss some of the wild history of Eggnog and the alcohol and plants associated with it!

Eggnog... it's eggs.... and alcohol?  One of those love it or hate it beverages, Eggnog's origins come from a non alcoholic beverage made by Monks.  On this episode we talk about why we chose the alcohol we do for Eggnog, where the drink comes from, and give a little synopsis of some of the plants associated with creating this drink (which we will go into more detail about later).  Look out for our next episode on Champagne, which is also a holiday themed episode for New Years.  Hope you're drinking up on these cold winter days!