There’s a saying; ‘When Gorse is out of flower, kissing is out of fashion’ that is to say, Gorse is never out of flower! If you’re after the coconut scent of swathes of gorse bushes in bloom however, it is probably best to wait until a hot summer’s day and visit your nearest moor or heathland. In Devon, gorse was called Dartmoor Custard due to its density across the moorland views, and occasionally a dubious custard pudding was made with the flowers, although Gorse wine or cordial was generally more popular..

As a medicine, it was considered a bit of a cure all for everything from colds, asthma, GORD, TB, jaundice, heart problems, dermatitis, ringworm and boils, as well as being considered a mood-lifter. The flowers in particular are rich in flavonoids with high antioxidant activity, including flavonols, flavones, isoflavones and flavanones, the majority being liquiritigenin derivatives, which have been mostly studied in the context of another plant in the fabaceae family – Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

Written by Jenny Carden-Porrett.