[MPWG] NEWS: Change of Pace (ginseng)

[Olivia Kwong]

http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2009.01-agriculture-tobacco-ginseng-robert-hough/

Change of Pace
Former tobacco farmers have a bumper new crop to exploit: ginseng
by Robert Hough
photographs by Evan Lee
Published in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue.

For the benefit of those who have never taken ginseng to treat fatigue, 
stress, diabetes, headaches, dizziness, colds, influenza, high blood 
pressure, low blood pressure, thinning hair, failing memory, tumours, 
diminished libido, allergies, inflammation, poor appetite, a logy immune 
system, various circulatory issues, and/or generalized feelings of 
dispiritedness, I will start by saying this: nothing smells quite like 
ginseng. I have heard the aroma described as a tannic potpourri of 
licorice root, cloves, sarsaparilla, and the budding seed of the anise 
flower. This may be true, though any aromatic composition would also have 
to include the sickly sweet putrescence that descends on a forest in the 
fall, after all the leaves have fallen, and it has rained for a week, and 
everything has turned mushy and black. I would also add that ginseng 
pretty much tastes like it smells.

See the link above for the full article text.