Distributed for Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Kew Gardens Christmas Book
A celebration of Christmastime at Kew Gardens.
Christmas is a special festival, marked around the world each December. It is a time of year that Kew Gardens enjoys celebrating. One striking aspect of Christmas is the role played by plants, mammals, and birds—from the Christmas tree and vibrant evergreens used to decorate our homes to the reindeer and robins that are such an endearing part of the Christmas story.
The Kew Gardens Christmas Book is a beautifully illustrated celebration of the plants and animals central to Christmas. Jenny Linford, author of the highly successful The Kew Gardens Cookbook, weaves together history, folklore, botany, and stories about Kew, as well as a selection of delicious plant and fungi-based Christmas recipes. From the history of the Christmas tree to the intriguing story of frankincense, the book is filled with fascinating festive facts. In short, it’s the perfect Christmas present.
Christmas is a special festival, marked around the world each December. It is a time of year that Kew Gardens enjoys celebrating. One striking aspect of Christmas is the role played by plants, mammals, and birds—from the Christmas tree and vibrant evergreens used to decorate our homes to the reindeer and robins that are such an endearing part of the Christmas story.
The Kew Gardens Christmas Book is a beautifully illustrated celebration of the plants and animals central to Christmas. Jenny Linford, author of the highly successful The Kew Gardens Cookbook, weaves together history, folklore, botany, and stories about Kew, as well as a selection of delicious plant and fungi-based Christmas recipes. From the history of the Christmas tree to the intriguing story of frankincense, the book is filled with fascinating festive facts. In short, it’s the perfect Christmas present.
Table of Contents
Introduction 7
Evergreens 15
The Christmas tree 16
Holly 25
Mistletoe 28
Ivy 31
The Yule log 34
The Glastonbury Thorn 36
Ornamental Christmas plants 39
Christmas wreaths 41
Wassailing 43
The robin 45
Reindeer 48
The ox 52
Snow 55
Frankincense and myrhh 58
The goose 62
The turkey 66
The boar’s head 68
Brassicas 71
Christmas pudding 74
Festive spices 77
Cinnamon 79
Cloves 80
Ginger 80
Nutmeg 83
The almond 86
The chestnut 88
Marzipan 91
Christmas fruit cake 93
The cranberry 94
Citrus fruit 96
The pomegranate 99
Sorrel (hibiscus or roselle) 102
Gingerbread 104
Cacao and chocolate 105
RECIPES
Stilton and poppyseed coins 112
Spiced sweet potato soup 113
Chestnut soup 114
Crunchy pickled vegetables 116
Beetroot potato pancakes 117
Pomegranate coleslaw 118
Truffled porcini stuffing 119
Cherry walnut Christmas mincemeat 122
Panettone pudding 124
Syllabub ginger trifle 125
Sorrel rum jelly 126
Cranberry marzipan cookies 127
Chocolate orange truffles 128
Recommended reading 130
Image credits and acknowledgements 132
Conversion tables 133
Index 135
Evergreens 15
The Christmas tree 16
Holly 25
Mistletoe 28
Ivy 31
The Yule log 34
The Glastonbury Thorn 36
Ornamental Christmas plants 39
Christmas wreaths 41
Wassailing 43
The robin 45
Reindeer 48
The ox 52
Snow 55
Frankincense and myrhh 58
The goose 62
The turkey 66
The boar’s head 68
Brassicas 71
Christmas pudding 74
Festive spices 77
Cinnamon 79
Cloves 80
Ginger 80
Nutmeg 83
The almond 86
The chestnut 88
Marzipan 91
Christmas fruit cake 93
The cranberry 94
Citrus fruit 96
The pomegranate 99
Sorrel (hibiscus or roselle) 102
Gingerbread 104
Cacao and chocolate 105
RECIPES
Stilton and poppyseed coins 112
Spiced sweet potato soup 113
Chestnut soup 114
Crunchy pickled vegetables 116
Beetroot potato pancakes 117
Pomegranate coleslaw 118
Truffled porcini stuffing 119
Cherry walnut Christmas mincemeat 122
Panettone pudding 124
Syllabub ginger trifle 125
Sorrel rum jelly 126
Cranberry marzipan cookies 127
Chocolate orange truffles 128
Recommended reading 130
Image credits and acknowledgements 132
Conversion tables 133
Index 135