Coriander ~ Fresh leaves in salads, especially
carrot; seed in curries, chutneys and fresh leaf as a garnish
Dill ~ Fresh leaves with fish; in sauces
and marinades for fish; in soups, salads; with potatoes, courgettes,
marrow; seed in pickles; in bread and cakes
Fennel ~ Fresh leaves with fish and poultry;
with soft cheeses; seed with oily fish; in sauces, soups; in teas
Garlic ~ Fresh bulb in Mediterranean
cookery; in soups, casseroles, sauces, dressings, dips, mayonnaise
Ginger ~ Fresh root in stir-fries, curries;
fresh or dried root in chutneys and pickles; dried, ground root in fruit
dishes, cakes and biscuits; stem ginger in fruit salads
Horseradish ~ Fresh, grated root in sauces
for beef, fish, shellfish
Lemon Balm ~ Fresh leaves in fruit salads;
in sweet and savoury sauces; in stuffings; in wine cups
Lemon Verbena ~ Fresh leaves in fruit
salads, fruit punches; in teas
Lovage ~ Fresh leaves in soups, casseroles;
with poultry; in salads
Marigold ~ Fresh petals in soups; in
salads; with soft cheeses
Marjoram ~ Fresh or dried leaves in bouquet
garni; in soups and casseroles; with tomatoes and beans; in meat and
poultry dishes
Mint ~ Fresh leaves in Middle Eastern
cookery; with yoghurt; in sauces for lamb; in summer drinks and fruit
salads; in teas
Nasturtium ~ Fresh petals in green salads;
with soft cheeses
Oregano ~ Fresh or dried leaves in most
Italian dishes, particularly pasta sauces and pizza; with meat dishes;
with tomatoes, mushrooms and aubergines
Parsley ~ Fresh leaves in bouquet garni;
in soups, sauces, casseroles; in butters; in salads; extensively used
as a garnish
Rosemary ~ Whole fresh sprigs with lamb
or poultry
Sage ~ Fresh or dried leaves in stuffings
with onion; for fatty meats; in sausages; with cheeses
Savory, Summer ~ Fresh or dried with
beans, lentils and peas; in soups
Sweet Cicely ~ Fresh leaves with stewed
fruit, in fruit salads
Sorrel ~ Fresh leaves in sauces for fish;
in soups
Tarragon ~ Fresh or dried leaves with
poultry and fish; in vinegars, sauces, dressings; in omelettes and with
mushrooms
Thyme ~ Fresh or dried leaves in bouquet
garni; in stews, meat dishes; with tomatoes and courgettes; lemon thyme
with fruit
Watercress ~ Fresh leaves in soups; in
sauces for fish; in salads
Herbs
- Mythology and Method
Angelica • Balm • Basil • Bay • Borage • Caraway • Dill • Fennel
• Garlic • Golden
Hop
Lemon Verbena • Lovage
• Marjoram (Sweet) • Mint • Nasturtium • Peppermint
Rosemary • Sage •
Sorrel • Spearmint • Summer Savory
Wild Marjoram or Oregano • Winter Savory
With
a reputation as a repellent of infectious diseases, Angelica was employed
during the Great Plague that swept Europe in the mid-seventeenth century.
Its protective powers were supposedly revealed by an angel to a dreaming
monk, hence its name. It is a principal ingredient of Benedictine and
Chartreuse liqueurs and a Native American Indian remedy for bronchial
infections. It is also said to ward off evil spirits, keep out witches
and ease flatulence. Today, it is crystallised and used extensively
as a cake decoration. (to index)
Balm
Derived
from the Greek word for bee, balm has been a popular bee plant in the
Mediterranean for over 2,000 years. In fact, when new bees were introduced
to a hive, it was customary to rub the inside with balm to encourage
them to stay. For humans it has a reputation as a herbal antidepressant
- Culpeper declared in the seventeenth century: it driveth away
all troublesome cares and thoughts of the mind, arising from melancholy
and black choler . Present-day aromatherapists recommend the essential
oil for depression, anxiety, nervous headaches and restlessness. The
fresh leaf may be mixed with Indian tea for a refreshing drink. (to index)
Basil
This
unassuming plant inspired fear well into the seventeenth century when
it was popularly believed that taking snuff made from powdered basil
leaves, or even smelling it, would allow scorpions to nest in your brain.
It was once customary in Hindu homes to place a sprig of basil on the
dead before burial to ensure their safe passage to the next world. In
ancient Greece and Rome it was associated with poverty, hate and misfortune,
yet, in parts of Italy it was used as a love token. It also repels flies.
Gives Italian pasta sauce its distinctive flavour. (to
index)
Bay
Dedicated
to Apollo, the god of light, bay was also the symbol of peace and victory
and hence was used to make wreaths for emperors, generals and poets.
(Poet laureate - from a laurel wreath as tribute for a poet). According
to superstition, standing under a bay tree would shield you from thunder,
lightning and witches, while the death of a bay tree was considered
an ill omen. Notwithstanding, bay leaf is still used extensively in
cooking, especially soups and stews, and its oil is used by herbalists
as a rub for stiff or rheumatic joints. (to index)
Borage
Commonly
known as the herb of gladness, Pliny quotes an ancient Latin verse:
I, Borage, bring always gladness. According to Gerald:
the leaves and flowers of borage put in wine do make all men and women
glad and merry and drive away all sadness, dullness and melancholy.
Promotes sweating and has expectorant properties, both of which are
beneficial for feverish, chesty colds. Traditionally added to summer
drinks such as Pimm's Cup, it is also said to cure hangovers. (to
index)
Caraway
Reputed
to prevent departures, it was included in love potions to ensure fidelity
as well as being fed to fowl to prevent them straying. In German folklore
a dish of caraway was put under a child's cot to protect it from witches
and it was also believed that any object containing caraway could not
be stolen. Caraway-seed bread and cakes were commonly eaten in Elizabethan
Britain and a caraway-seed cake was traditionally offered to farm labourers
when they had finished sowing the wheat. Whilst probably unnecessary
for the latter, it is known to stimulate a weak appetite and aid digestion.
(to index)
Dill
Dill
seeds, once popularly known as Meeting House seeds, were chewed
during long church services to allay hunger pains and calm rumbling
stomachs. According to some authorities, the name dill is derived from
the old Norse word dylla meaning to lull. Corroboration
of this is that infant gripe water can be made from dill seeds and used
to soothe babies with indigestion, flatulence or colic and to induce
sleep. An infusion of the herb has also been recommended for treating
piles. Use the leaves for fish dishes, and the seeds in pickles, breads
and cakes. (to index)
Fennel
Prized
by the Romans for its stems and aromatic seeds, fennel is also mentioned
in Anglo-Saxon recipes and was traditionally eaten with salted fish
during Lent. This combination fulfilled the dual function of checking
flatulence and making the fish more digestible. In the seventeenth century
fennel seed acquired a reputation as a slimming aid that still persists
today. The seeds were once held to strengthen the eyes; for this reason,
snakes were reputed to eat the plant after shedding their skins. In
medieval times, seeds inserted into keyholes were believed to bar the
way to ghosts. Use with fish and poultry and in soups and sauces. (to index)
Garlic
Highly
esteemed by the ancient Egyptians, they ensured that the slaves building
the Great Pyramid at Cheops were given a daily supply. It has antibacterial
properties that help the immune system to fight infection. It can help
to prevent colds and has been used successfully to curb the spread of
dysentery, diphtheria, whooping cough and typhoid. Its antiseptic properties
were invaluable in World Wars l and ll when its juice was used to stop
wounds turning septic. It was the main ingredient of the Four Thieves'
Vinegar consumed by robbers who plundered the bodies of plague
victims, yet did not catch the disease. In modern myth cloves of garlic
are reputed to serve as a protection against vampires. (to
index)
Golden
Hop
Once
forbidden by Henry Vlll and deemed a wicked weed that would spoil the
taste of the drink and endanger the people, it was not until the seventeenth
century that the beer brewed from hops was widely available as ale.
Hops contain hormonal substances that, taken in large quantities, may
be connected with temporary impairment of the male sexual function.
Many people have also reported improved sleeping habits after using
a pillow stuffed with dried hops. Hops have a soothing effect on the
central nervous system and are beneficial for tension and anxiety but
should be avoided by those suffering from depression. Applied externally,
an infusion will relieve neuralgic inflammation and rheumatic pains.
(to index)
Lemon
Verbena
The
chosen perfume of Scarlet O'Hara's mother in Gone with the Wind,
lemon verbena was brought to Europe by Spanish colonists who found it
growing wild in Chile and Argentina. At banquets, lemon verbena scented
the water in finger bowls and the fresh leaves were used as a perfumed
body rub after bathing. The distilled oil is still an essential basic
ingredient in many perfumes. A refreshing tea, made by infusion, is
very popular in Spain and France and can be drunk three to four times
a day to relieve acidity, indigestion and flatulence or as a stimulant
for lethargy or depression. (to index)
Lovage
Popular
with Benedictine monks during the middle ages for its medicinal, as
well as it culinary properties. In olden times the bruised leaves fried
in hog's lard were said to break a blotch or boil. Nowadays, some aromatherapists
use lovage oil for removing spots and freckles from the face. Lovage
root has diuretic properties and was once employed in the treatment
of jaundice and kidney stones. The leafy stems have a powerful, celery-like
flavour and may be used in soups and potato salads. Try sprinkling the
salty seeds on breads and cheese biscuits. (to index)
Marjoram,
Sweet
According
to an old English custom, if a young girl anointed herself before bed
with a mixture of dried marjoram, thyme and wormwood on St. Luke's Day,
she would dream of her future husband. In ancient Greece, marjoram was
used to crown newly-wed couples, and growing the herb on a tomb would
allow the souls of the dead to find peace and happiness. Medicinally,
it has strong sedative powers (use sparingly) - mild teas have a soothing
effect on the nerves and aid sleep. (to index)
Mint
The
seventeenth century herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper wrote that the herb
stirs up venery, or bodily lust. However, the Roman Pliny,
whilst advising scholars to wear a crown of mint to aid concentration,
warned lovers that it was contrary to procreation. The Greeks
believed the opposite - their soldiers were warned to avoid it for fear
that increased love-making would diminish their courage in battle. In
Greek myth Mentha, the name of the mint genus, was a lovely
nymph pursued by Pluto, god of the underworld. When jealous Persephone
discovered her husband's infidelity, she turned Mentha into a low-growing
plant that could be trodden underfoot. Fortunately, the plant also gave
off a lovely aromatic scent. (to index)
Nasturtium
A
lotion of this plant has been said to prevent baldness and a hip-bath
of nasturtiums will regulate a woman's periods. For those who'd rather
eat it, the peppery-tasting flowers and young leaves add interest to
salads, while the pickled flower buds may be eaten like capers. High
in vitamin C, they are thought to be effective for lung problems, blocked
bronchial tubes, and against scurvy. (to index)
Peppermint
The
mint most commonly used by herbalists on account of its menthol content,
the valuable aromatic compound has cooling, anti-spasmodic, anaesthetic
and decongestant properties. Peppermint tea acts as a general pick-me-up
and can alleviate stomach aches, menstrual cramps and indigestion. It
also stimulates gastric secretions - hence the tradition of after-dinner
mints. On the other hand, rats and mice intensely dislike mint which
is why it is put near cheeses or in sacks of grain. (to
index)
Rosemary
Featured
at weddings in times past as an emblem of fidelity, sprays were traditionally
included in the bride's bouquet, and tapping your lover with a fresh
sprig was said to ensure constancy. It efficacy was proved by Anne of
Cleves who wore a rosemary wreath when she married Henry Vlll? Rosemary
was also thought to strengthen the brain and Greek scholars wore garlands
of it while sitting examinations. It's connection with the head persists
since herbalists recommend it for headaches and it is a popular ingredient
of hair tonics and shampoos. The oil is an old remedy for gout and muscular
aches and pains, and it was the active ingredient in Hungary Water
that restored life to Queen Elizabeth of Hungary's paralysed limbs in
the fourteenth century. According to superstition, sleeping with a sprig
of rosemary under the pillow would banish both evil spirits and nightmares.
(to index)
Sage
Now
one of the commonest herbs in European cookery, it was so highly esteemed
in the tenth century that it had acquired the reputation of conferring
immortality. This exaggerated claim persisted well into the seventeenth
century when John Evelyn wrote: It is a plant indeed with so many
wonderful properties that the assiduous use of it is said to render
men immortal. It was also thought to reflect the business fortunes
of the man of the house, flourishing or withering according to the state
of his finances. Another tradition held that a strong woman ruled the
household in the garden of which a sage bush grew vigorously. Roman
women who had difficulty conceiving were advised to drink sage juice
for four days, while abstaining from conjugal relations. At the end
of this time, conjugal relations would recommence and conception would
take place forthwith. Also used in stuffing. (to index)
Sorrel
The
common name of this herb is derived from the old French surele
meaning sour, and sorrel leaves are well known for their acidity. The
Egyptians and the Romans ate it to counteract discomfort caused from
over-indulgence in rich food and it was a very popular pot herb and
salad plant in medieval times. The juice from the leaves and stems will
curdle milk and the Laplanders used it as a substitute for rennet for
this purpose. It should be avoided by those suffering from bladder stones,
rheumatism, gout, asthma and pulmonary complaints. Externally it has
been prescribed for scabbing, ringworm, itchy skin, festering sores
and wounds, mouth ulcers and boils. (to index)
Spearmint
The
Roman naturalist Pliny declared that the smell of mint doth stir
up the minde, and the taste of a greedy desire for meate. Today,
mint sauce is still the classic accompaniment for roast lamb, and the
chopped fresh herb is particularly good with new potatoes, peas and
young carrots. Mint Julep, a drink based on fresh spearmint leaves,
Kentucky bourbon and crushed ice, became popular in the nineteenth century.
In the Middle Ages mint was applied with salt to the bitings of
mad dogs and also to wasp and bee stings. (to index)
Summer
Savory
The
generic name Satureja comes from the Latin Satyrus, a Satyr. According
to Greek mythology, satyrs were lascivious, horned creatures with cloven
hoofs who inhabited forests and were fond of chasing nymphs. This legend
probably gave rise to Summer Savory' s reputation as an aphrodisiac
and goes some way to explaining the herb's continued popularity in cooking.
Its pungent, peppery flavour complements sausages and stuffings and
it is one of the traditional seasonings for Italian salami. The strong
volatile oil it contains aids digestion and is particularly recommended
for flavouring foods which are difficult to digest such as pork and
cucumber. (to index)
Wild
Marjoram or Oregano
Once
gathered by ancient Greeks for poultices and applied to sores, aching
muscles, and joints swollen by rheumatism, today herbalists recommend
wild marjoram for coughs, colds and flu, and as an antiseptic mouthwash
for mouth and throat infections. A tea is also helpful for tension headaches,
and the diluted oil eases muscular pains. According to the Greek Gerard
it would bring joy to the depressed and easeth such as are given
to overmuch sighing. It also gives pizza and spaghetti sauces their
distinctive flavour. (to index)
Winter
Savory
It
has a sharper, spicier taste than Summer Savory but can be used for
medicinal and culinary purposes in much the same way. Savory was well
known to Shakespeare who refers to it in The Winter's Tale,
while in Tudor England, winter savory shrubs were a common feature in
knot gardens as well as kitchen gardens. In Europe, the leaves of both
summer and winter savory were traditionally used to flavour food, long
before the introduction of spices from India and the Far East. It was
popular with the ancient Romans who pounded it up with vinegar to make
a sauce for roast meat. (to index)
• • • INFORMATION
• • • HISTORY • •
• PLANTS • • • HERBS
• • • CORONA NORTH • •
• VIRTUAL LAKE • • •
