Hop is primarily known for its use in the brewing of beer. It is the cone, which develops from the female flower of this herbaceous bine, that is used for the purpose. The female flower is commonly known as ‘hops’ as it appears in a cluster containing many flowers. The hairy part of the female flower contains a yellow powder called ‘lupulin’. Hop is a dioceous where the male and the female flowers grow on different plants.

The botanic name of the perennial hop is ‘humulus’. It gets its name from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘hoppan’, the meaning of which is ‘to climb’. The leaves are opposite and with sharp teeth at the edges. This creeper, which has its origin in the temperate North, in countries like Europe, North America and Asia, thrives well in waste grounds. The blossoms start late June or in the beginning of July.

Hops are used in the brewing of beer to provide the bitterness and the flavour to the beverage. Apart from this, hop has a number of medicinal properties. It is believed to have a calming and soothing effect on the central nervous system. It is also found to be effective to increase production of breast milk. It cures the infection of the upper part of the digestive tract and various other injuries. The phytoestrogens present in hop brings relief to menopausal discomfort.