Culinary Herbs

Many of the flavoring herbs now in use were similarly employed before the erection of the pyramids. Sadly, many herbs popular in ancient times no longer appear in modern lists of esculents.

Historical herb usage is based largely upon imperfect records. But it seems safe to conclude that a good number of herbs, especially those said to be natives of the Mediterranean region, overhung and perfumed the cradle of the human race.

According to Biblical passages, several herbs were highly esteemed in that era. The gospels of Matthew and Luke make reference to tithes of mint, anise, rue, cummin and other "herbs"; and, more than 700 years previously, Isaiah speaks of the sowing and threshing of cummin which, since the same passage (Isaiah 28:25) also speaks of "fitches" (vetches), wheat, barley and "rie" (rye), seems then to have been a valued crop.

Development of herb crops contrasts strongly with that of the other referenced crops. Whereas the latter crops have continued to be staples, and have improved in both quality and yield since that ancient time, the herb crops have dropped to a subordinate position of all edible plants.

Herbs have decreased in number of species, and have shown less improvement than any other group of plants cultivated for economic purposes. Besides being a food crop, herbs are valued for medicinal purposes. They can also be used as aromatherapy ingredients. Let's not forget their use as decoration and ornamentation. With so many beneficial uses it is hard to understand why herbs have been relegated to the bottom of the pile when it comes to increasing production and creating new varieties.

The loss of varieties and the absence of improvement is to be regretted. With improved quality and harvest yield would come increased consumption and a greater selection of appetizing flavors and scents.

Container herb gardens are becoming staples in many homes. Perhaps interest by the increasing number of leisure gardeners will spark the desire to develop new herb varieties.

To learn to value herbs at their true worth one should grow them.

Then every visitor to your garden will be reminded of some quotation from Shakespeare or some other repository of interesting thoughts; for since herbs have been loved as long as the race has lived on the earth, literature is full of references to facts and fancies concerning them. Thus your herb garden will become the nucleus around which cluster gems of verse and lilts of song. For...

"The wisdom of the ages
Blooms anew among the sages."

To prepare a homemade dinner for friends and family,you should have a container garden with commonly used culinary herbs. Fresh seasonings would always be at hand and dried herbs would be easy to restock.

Sage, mint, sweet marjoram, basil, thyme, tarragon, chives and parsley are just examples of what you may wish to grow.

If you were to use a simple half barrel with holes drilled in the side, filled with good soil, and placed in a sunny location, you could have an herb garden of your own the year through, even if you live in the city. Many apartments have balconies which will work for a smaller container garden if a half barrel is too large. In the holes at the sides you can plant parsley, and it will grow to cover
the barrel, so that you have a bank of green to look upon. On the top of the half barrel plant your mint, sage, thyme and others. Thyme is so pleasing a plant in appearance and fragrance that you may acceptably give it a place among those you have in your window for ornament.

While cooking is the primary reason gardeners set aside a special place for herbs, there are other benefits to growing them.

Sweet herbs can also be grown to serve a pleasing and aesthetic purpose. Many herbs may be used for decoration. A bouquet of the pale pink blossoms of thyme and the delicate flowers of marjoram, the fragrant sprigs of lemon balm mixed with the bright yellow umbels of sweet fennel, the finely divided leaves of rue and the long glassy ones of bergamot, is not only novel in appearance but in scent. In sweetness it excels even sweet peas and roses. Mixed with the brilliant red berries of barberry and multiflora rose, and the dark-green branches of hardy thyme, which continues fresh and sweet through the year, a handsome and lasting bouquet may be made for a midwinter table decoration, a fragrant reminder of Shakespeare's lines in "A Winter's Tale":

"Here's flowers for you;
Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun
And with him rises weeping."

The rare aroma of sweet marjoram reminds many people of their grandmother's country garden. So much so that countless muslin bags of dried marjoram leaves intended to be used for stuffing poultry never reach the kitchen. They are placed in the sunlight of a bay window where Old Sol coaxes forth their imprisoned odors and perfumes the air with childhood memories of summers in the country.

Other memories cling to the delicate little lavender. Most people have at least one lavender sachet in a dresser drawer, linen closet or hope chest. Would any country wedding be complete without little silk bags filled with dried lavender buds and blooms? They certainly add the finishing touch of romance to the dainty trousseau of linen and lace.

Scent can affect mood, memory, and sense of well-being. Add some herbs to your home so your kids and grandkids will have a special scent associated with you, something that when they smell it will trigger fond memories of their childhood.

They say that potpourri is to an herb lover what cooking is to the gourmet. Potpourri is easy to make and the scent can last a long time. The aroma of your own personal potpourri creation will trigger memories for a lifetime.

Potpourri is a way to capture the essence of your herb garden and bring it inside. Potpourri is usually a blend of flowers, herbs, and spices that appeal to the eye as well as the nose. The mixture can be used in sachets or placed in beautiful container jars.

There is a vast difference in the quality of potpourri made with essential oils verses those using synthetic perfumes. Many store bought potpourri items have an aroma that is noticeably artificial. Another benefit of creating your own is the ability to control the strength of the scent.

There are many potpourri recipes available free online or at the library. A little research and you can be putting your herb garden to use in a whole new way. What's first? A lavender sachet to toss into the dryer to freshen your clothes, a lemon sachet for your car, or maybe creating a dream pillow for all the children in your life. Never let an herb go to waste again.

During the Victorian era, defined as the period of time between 1837 and 1901 when Queen Victoria reigned, the language of flowers was as important to people as being "well dressed." The scent of a particular flower or perhaps a scented handkerchief sent its own unique message.

The lore of herbs and the "language" of flowers are a huge part of Victorian tradition. Flowers were so loved that they decorated everything from hair, dress and jewelry to stationary and dishes. Because of their importance to Victorian society, meanings were assigned to all popular plants. Thus talking bouquets were created. Lovers exchanged bouquets of herbs and flowers to express their feelings to one another. They became the discreet messengers for a daring but proper suitors, the inarticulate but sympathetic friend, or for the polite guest. Yet another example of how clever and romantic the Victorians were. How sad to realize such a tradition was lost.

Dictionaries were published to help decipher the coded messages. The definitions for the most popular and common herbs grown today is below.

Basil = best wishes

Dill = irresistibility

Garden Sage = domestic virtue

Lavender = devotion

Lemon Balm = sympathy & understanding

Lemon Verbena = responsibility

Mint = warmth

Parsley = festivity

Pineapple Sage = hospitality

Purple Sage = gratitude

Rosemary = remembrance

Scented Geraniums = comfort

St. John's Wort = protection

Sweet Marjoram = joy & happiness

Thyme = courage

Now you can plant a theme herb garden or create a container herb garden for the one you love with your own secret message. Though I doubt your message will be secret for long, nobody will be able to resist bragging about such a romantic gift.

If you enjoyed this lens, you may find my website Herb Growing Tips another great stop on the information highway.

I also have another Squidoo lens for Medicinal Herbs