Humulus lupulus is a plant that has been around for many centuries. Its history began in the United States in the 1600s. This plant has had many different uses throughout history. From medicinal to commercial uses, the hops plant has provided significant cost-effective benefits in addition to advances in medical research. Humulus is a Latin name of uncertain origin; lupulus literally means “little wolf”. This refers to the plant's habit of climbing and smothering trees (Melymuka). Hop cultivation is believed to have started in Eastern Europe and later spread to the rest of Europe. When Europeans began immigrating to different parts of the world in the 1500s, the tradition of growing hops was taken with them. The hop plant was introduced to more southern regions, such as South Africa and New Zealand, in the 1800s. Settlers in North America long imported dried hops from Europe before eventually cultivating the plant themselves. In 1629, the Massachusetts Company began growing hops commercially. Gradually, most of the New England states became good places for growing hops. In the early 1800s, after experiencing a decline in hop cultivation, New York became the primary location for cultivating the plant. However, in the 1920s, downy mildew struck and destroyed many hop fields. This, in addition to Prohibition, brought the hop growing and brewing industries to a halt. When the ban was lifted in 1933, hop cultivation increased again, and quickly. However, New York was not the location of production. The main growth areas are moving across the country to states like Oregon, California and Washington. Oregon and Washington remain the largest hop-producing regions in the world today (DeNoma 2000). Now...... middle of paper...... to extract all these acids. Aromatic hops are “derived from essential oils found in the lupulin glands” (Michael). The oils that come from these glands are humulene, mycrene, geraniol and limonene. These hops are added to the boil about 30 minutes after the bittering hops. This timing is important because oils have a high evaporation rate. If left to boil too long, the flavor and characteristics of this hop will be lost. Like aromatic hops, aromatic hops come from the essential oils of the lupulin glands. These have an extremely high evaporation rate, so they are added in the last few minutes of boiling. Humulus lupulus has proven to be an extremely valuable plant in many different regions and periods throughout history. From medical research to the brewing industry, exploration of this plant and its properties continues to grow..