Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

Tortellini with butter and sage - who does not know them. But sage has more to offer. It smells aromatic and tastes - depending on the variety - mild to slightly bitter.

It is used for meat, venison, poultry, sausages, fish, herb cheese and much more. Also adds flavor to hearty dishes such as liver, ham or lamb. In addition, it is particularly suitable for fatty dishes because it promotes their digestibility. Last but not least, pineapple sage is now making a splash in desserts and cold fruit punch.

On the balcony or in the garden, the perennial sage needs a sunny spot with well-drained soil.

It is easy to care for and should only be watered a little when the substrate has dried well.

Often, old home remedies come back into fashion. For example, sage. In the past, people used it against respiratory diseases. Today, we know that sage actually helps because it contains an acid that has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

For example, when you suffer from a sore throat, chew a fresh sage leaf. This helps. In addition, sage tea with honey and lemon juice is considered an excellent remedy in case of inflammation of the throat and tonsils. This is even used by opera singers when they have overexerted their vocal cords.

In the past, sage was also used to reduce excessive sweating.

Today we know that it actually inhibits the production of sweat. This explains why in commerce are found many deodorants with the ingredient «sage».

Anyone who loves Mediterranean cuisine knows rosemary. It has a tart, resinous, slightly bitter flavor and goes well with stews, venison, lamb, rabbit, chicken, seafood, fish, vegetables and rosemary potatoes.

It is also often used for herb butter or to flavor olive oil and is considered a classic barbecue seasoning. Rosemary is even used for desserts.

Unlike other herbs, rosemary tolerates high heat and long cooking times, but is difficult to combine with other spices.

On the balcony or in the garden? Perennial rosemary likes a sunny location. Choose a nutrient-rich, well-drained substrate and water sparingly but regularly.

Rosemary stands for love, fidelity, fertility and immortality. In ancient civilizations, it was used as an offering to the gods. The Romans, on the other hand, used it – together with other herbs - to make fragrant bridal bouquets more than 2000 years ago.

Later, rosemary even became a «soloist» at weddings. In Germany, for example, brides were still wearing rosemary wreaths at the beginning of the 20th century.

One of the most unusual experiences was certainly the Portuguese and Italian custom of placing rosemary in the bride's shoes. But perhaps the scent of this herb helped the feet to get through the day «odor-free».

By the way, in Belgium rosemary was the symbol of life for a long time. That is why children were told that newborns would be taken from a rosemary bush.

Thyme is an important ingredient in Provençal cuisine. It spices very intensively, has a fresh aromatic taste with a slightly bitter note and can be used for many dishes.

For example, for meat, fish, pasta and potato courses, for stews, sauces and soups, tomato and mushroom specialties, for minced meat and shish kebab. Thanks to its light citrus note, lemon thyme is even used in poultry and ratatouille.

On the balcony or in the garden, thyme proves to be very robust and does not need much water. It prefers a full sun location.

Those who grow thyme in pots or in the garden must ensure good drainage. Waterlogging should be avoided at all costs.

The name thyme comes from the Greek word «thymos» which means strength and courage and recalls the stimulating effect of this condiment. In any case, the Roman legionnaires never let themselves be deprived of their bath of hot water in a tub containing a decoction of thyme before each battle to increase their motivation.

In the 11th century, monks brought thyme from Italy to Central Europe. There it became known not only for its antiseptic properties. Rather, it was also discovered in English and French cuisine.

Today, the common thyme is the best known.

But the lemon thyme (hardy plant, lemony scent) as well as the cascade thyme (thymus odoratus, semi-hardy, with a special boletus aroma) are also popular.