Fenugreek in Beer

[Owly055]

Fenugreek is an interesting legume with many health properties. It is beneficial to lactating mothers, and is known to result in larger breasts in women. It also has the ability to help control blood sugar, and has numerous other reputed health benefits. Here are two pages, one enthusiastic, and one less so:


http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/15-health-benefits-of-methi/

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-733-fenugreek.aspx?activeingredientid=733&

Fenugreek has a strong flavor, that is often described as maple syrup flavor, and reputedly has been used in imitation maple flavoring or syrup. This should make it an interesting and useful adjunct for beer. The question is how to use it.... crush it and soak it, sprout it, sprout and roast, cook it until it's soft as one would a bean.

No doubt fenugreek has been used by someone here. I intend to buy some and play with it. I definitely do not need a larger breast size ;-), but there are other health benefits, and the sprouts are said to be very interesting, and good if a tad bitter.

H.W.

 

[IslandLizard]

I use the seeds in Indian cooking. They're very bitter and are a main ingredient in "curry powder," to which it lends its characteristic flavor. IMO the seeds don't taste like maple syrup at all. Maybe other parts of the plant do. Like coriander (seeds) don't taste anything like the green weeds (cilantro).

The only beer I've ever had that reminisces Indian "curry" was by New Belgium (Lips of Faith series), and it was not very enjoyable.

 

[Rob2010SS]

Little bit of a revival here. I had an Imperial milk stout with fenugreek in it not too long ago and was delicious. Your brain on brunch by Pipeworks. I think I want to try and mess around with it. It's been a couple years since anyone posted on this thread. Any more experience with it?

 

[odie]

I thought you could buy fenugreek as an extract? A maple syrup substitute. Or is that what imitation maple syrup extract is made from? Most extracts are ambiguous on the actual ingredients

 

[Rob2010SS]

I believe I read that fenugreek is one of the main ingredients in imitation maple flavoring.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

The seeds are a main contributor in curry powder and I must admit the only fenugreek beer I've had just tasted of curry, it was one of the weirdest beers I've ever had.

That hasn't stopped some people trying though : https://www.ratebeer.com/tag/fenugreek/

 

[Rob2010SS]

The seeds are a main contributor in curry powder and I must admit the only fenugreek beer I've had just tasted of curry, it was one of the weirdest beers I've ever had.

That hasn't stopped some people trying though : https://www.ratebeer.com/tag/fenugreek/

I've read that about fenugreek, that it can taste like curry. Here's a pic of the one I had and while I don't eat a lot of curry, I know roughly what it tastes like and this tasted nothing like it. This had a nice maple syrup note to it.

I suppose it'll have to be one of those ingredients I play around with a bit to figure out.