Spice Description
Reeds and bull-rushes come to mind when one sees this hardy perennial growing in the shallow, still recesses of streams and watery ditches in the Northern Hemisphere. The long, sword-shaped, slightly crinkled, sweet-scented leaves grow to around 4 ft. (1.2 m) high and tiny yellow flowers are borne on a solid, cylindrical spike resembling a bull-rush. Although the plant sometimes fruits, propagation is mainly achieved by vigorous growth of the rhizome.

While all parts of the plant are sweet and aromatic the inner section of the stalk having an orange-like taste - most culinary and medicinal use is made of the root system or rhizome. This is about 3/4 in. (2 cm) in diameter and when dry is pale gray-brown in color and scarred from the removal of scores of 'worm-like' rootlets on harvesting. In cross-section the rhizome is pale, almost white, porous and woody. Calamus root has a pungent aroma, the flavor being initially sweet, similar to a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger with a bitter aftertaste.

There seems to be little argument that calamus or 'sweet flag', as it is often called, is a native to the mountain marshes of India. Use of the rhizomes there stretches back to antiquity and even after its introduction to Europe and widespread distribution by the Viennese botanist Clausius in the sixteenth century, the Indian rhizome was reputed to have the strongest and most pleasant flavor. The first record of cultivation was in Poland, where it was said to have been introduced by the Tartars.

The name calamus is derived from the Greek 'calamos' meaning reed. It was as a strewing reed for festivals in churches and in some homes that it experienced considerable popularity in Norfolk, England where much of it was grown. Calamus now grows extensively in the marshes of England, though it is uncommon in Scotland. It is not found in Spain but grows abundantly throughout Europe and east to southern Russia, China and Japan. In the northern United States it is so prolific it is considered to be indigenous.