Женепі

The plants

The plant is found in particular on moraines and other stony mounds in the mountains, and grows mostly between 2,500 and 3,200 metres of altitude. It occurs in the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Andes and some massifs of Bolivia. The genus Artemisia also includes lowland species, generally larger, in particular absinthe. The main species met in the Alpine massif are Artemisia genipi, A. umbelliformis, A. glacialis and A. borealis. Glacier génépi, A. glacialis, is the rarest species. Woolly génépi, A. eriantha, is the most vigorous and may exceed 20 cm in height. Flowering generally peaks in early August. The leaves of A. umbelliformis are used in the preparation of a tea and are sometimes used as a condiment.

Chemistry

In a study of the volatiles of A. genipi and A. umbelliformis from the Central Alps, A. genipi showed a higher proportion of monoterpene hydrocarbons, 32.8% against 5.6%. A. umbelliformis contained more oxygenated monoterpenes, 85.3% against 43.9%. Alpha-thujone reached 56.9% in A. umbelliformis and 32.2% in A. genipi, and beta-thujone 11.6% and 4.6%. Both species are classed in the thujone chemotype.

The liqueur

The liqueur is traditionally drunk as a digestif, but it can be taken as an apéritif or used in cocktails. Its namesake botanicals are of the genus Artemisia, as in absinthe, but it is a liqueur that contains sugar and is traditionally taken neat. The flavour is reminiscent of chamomile or feverfew, and the liqueur is less sweet than many digestifs. Other species used at one time or another to produce the liqueur are A. glacialis, A. pontica and A. borealis. The European Union protects French génépi liqueur under its Protected Geographical Status system. A beverage may be labelled and sold as génépi only if it meets the general EU requirements for liqueur, such as a minimum sugar content of 100 grams per litre.

Protection

No génépi is on the French national list of protected plant species, but woolly génépi is protected in the Rhône-Alpes region. Woolly génépi is also the only one totally protected in the French Alps. Prefectoral orders may limit the picking of the other species.

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