It's All About The Rosemary
From the landscape to the Chef’s Kitchen, it’s all about the wonderful world of Rosemary.
Here we’ll talk about the many uses and benefits of this beautiful, fragrant herb, its many forms, and varieties.
Exploring Rosemary
Exploring the many fragrances, flavors and forms of Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus or Rosmarinus officinalis, more commonly known as Rosemary,
is a fragrant evergreen shrub that has needle-like leaves and when in bloom has white, pink, purple, or blue flowers.
Rosemary is originally native to the Mediterranean and Asia, but is reasonably hardy in cool climates and can be grown almost anywhere.
It can withstand droughts, surviving a severe lack of water for lengthy periods.
The seeds can be difficult to start, with a low germination rate and relatively slow growth,
but the plant can live as long as 30 years.
The plant generally flowers in spring and summer in temperate climates but can be in constant bloom in warmer climates.
It is used as a culinary condiment, to make lotions, perfumes, and cremes, and for its potential health benefits.
It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, along with many other herbs, such as oregano, thyme, basil, and lavender.
In The Kitchen
Rosemary is a common ingredient in the kitchen that adds a fragrant savory note to dishes.
In cooking, it is used as a seasoning in a variety of dishes, such as soups, casseroles, salads, and stews.
It can be used fresh or dried to bring wonderful flavors to chicken and other poultry, wild game, lamb, pork, steaks, and fish, especially trout or salmon.
It also goes well with grains, mushrooms, onions, peas, potatoes, and spinach.
Rosemary butter is an excellent topping for steak, or use it as a spread or vegetable butter.
It’s also great on baked potatoes or tossed with pasta!
Culinary Rosemary can also be used to add a pop of flavor to fresh baked bread or biscuits.
It has been used in desserts, and pastries, and is a wonderful addition to make sweet and savory cookies.
It can even be found in some of your favorite cocktails as an ingredient or as a garnish like a cinnamon stick.
How about a Rosemary Martini?
Just add vodka, simple syrup, and lime juice; shake to combine.
Find cocktail recipes Here
Medicinal Value And Uses
The herb not only tastes good in culinary dishes, such as rosemary chicken and lamb, but it is also a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6.
It is typically prepared as a whole dried herb or a dried powdered extract, while teas and liquid extracts are made from fresh or dried leaves.
The herb has been hailed since ancient times for its medicinal properties.
Rosemary was traditionally used to help alleviate muscle pain, improve memory, boost the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth.
Rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are thought to help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation and can play an important role in neutralizing harmful particles called free radicals.
According to research outlined in Therapeutic Advances in PsychopharmacologyTrusted Source, the aroma of rosemary can improve a person’s concentration, performance, speed, accuracy, and, to a lesser extent, mood.
In The Landscape
There are a great variety of rosemary plants to choose from.
All rosemary has the same basic characteristics, but they may differ in the depth of color, width, and size of their leaves, or the color of their flowers.
Rosemary may also differ slightly in flavor.
While they will all have the classic “piney, earthy, rosemary” flavor, different varieties may have a spicier or more pungent flavor, or perhaps a hint of lemon.
Rosemary varieties generally have two types of growth habits.
Upright rosemary grows in a vertical shrub form and is a beautiful addition to the landscape.
It can be trained into topiary shapes and can reach heights of about 5-6 feet depending on the variety.
Trailing, or Prostrate rosemary grows in a trailing or cascading form.
It will only get to heights of around 2-3 feet tall (depending on variety) and is a wonderful choice for rock walls or borders, or for cascading over the top of pots.
Culinary Varieties
Although any variety of rosemary can be used in cooking, varieties with broader leaves have more flavorful aromatic oils that give a distinctive taste.
Some of the favorite culinary cultivars are:
- Tuscan Blue
- Spice Island
- Blue Spires
- Miss Jessop
- Barbeque
- Abraxas
In Conclusion
So whether you are looking to expand your palette of flavors in the kitchen,
or would like to have a beautiful, low-maintenance evergreen in the yard that looks and smells fantastic all year round, there is a variety that’s right for you.
Rosemary in any of its many forms is an excellent choice.
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