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Order: Rosales;
Family: Cannabaceae;
Genus: Humulus;
Species and synonyms: Common hop (Humulus lupulus).

GBIF: Humulus lupulus L.

Common hop (lat. Humulus lupulus) is a perennial vine from the family Cannabaceae, order Rosales. The stem is four-sided, hollow inside, covered with sharp spines, twists clockwise, reaching up to 7 m in length. Hop inflorescences ("cones"), harvested at the beginning of ripening, have long been used in brewing and baking (for making liquid yeast, in baking some types of bread). The tannins of hops regulate the fermentation of wort and prevent beer from souring; the essential oil, resins, and lupulin give beer its distinctive aroma and bitter taste. Young underground hop shoots (just emerging to the surface) are eaten in spring in vegetable dishes (like asparagus or cauliflower) and in green cabbage soup (like nettle). Hop cones were used in the past for dyeing fabrics. Hops are an ornamental climbing plant (cultivated for cones and for greening slopes, arbors, fences, balconies). Fiber for coarse burlap and ropes can be obtained from the long stems.

In cooking, hops (cones) are used in brewing (all types of beer, including ale, lager, stout, porter). Hop teas, tinctures, decoctions, and extracts are made from hops. Hops are added to bread, buns, gingerbread, and flatbreads (for aroma and as a natural preservative). Young hop shoots are boiled, fried, stewed, baked, and used in soups, salads, omelets, casseroles, and sauces. Hops pair well with beer, malt, yeast, honey, ginger, cinnamon, clove, coriander, pepper, garlic, onion, meat (pork, beef), game, and mushrooms.

Hops are rich in essential oils (humulene, caryophyllene, myrcene, limonene, β-pinene, α-thujone), flavonoids (xanthohumol), bitters (humulone, lupulone), tannins, resins, organic acids, vitamins (C, E, B vitamins), potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese. In folk medicine, hops are used as a calming, hypnotic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, choleretic, diuretic, and digestion-improving agent for insomnia, neurasthenia, hypertension, tachycardia, gastritis, colitis, constipation, kidney stones, cystitis, and for strengthening the immune system. Hop pillows are made for treating insomnia and neuroses. Contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation, and depression (in large doses may exacerbate).