Re: Winter drinks in Turkey

Bob Beer's mention of salep -- powdered orchis root -- illustrates yet 
another depredation of the native flora of the Mediterranean basin.  
I recall an item in a journal devoted to orchids that discussed a single 
proprietor who used several milion orchid tubers each year for salep ice 
cream.  Yes, many orchis are still common around the Mediterranean, but 
does anyone seriously believe that this level of consumption is 
sustainable?  Or that any care is taken to dig only "common" species?


CITES conventions regulate or prohibit international sales of most 
orchids, bulbs, cyclamens for the horticultural trade, but do nothing to 
protect "traditional" 
[actually, industrialized] exploitation of the same plants.

I don't mean to single out Turkey and the orchid trade entirely:  
exploitation of "medicinal herbs" is just as scandalous in the USA.


loren russell
corvallis, oregon, usa
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