Meet Herb's friend Rosemary (Rosemary)

Member Name: babajane32

Product:	Rosemary
Date:	06/12/03 (243 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: aroma, flavour, medicinal values

Disadvantages: none

Rosemary,or by its latin name "Rosmarinus",has been around for a great many years.Origonally cultivated for its medicinal properties it has also been used in cooking since well before Elizabethan times.

It has been associated with religious beleifs too,with it's name supposedly being derived from the Virgin Mary herself.It is said that the Virgin Mary had draped her cloak over this bush and placed a white flower on top of her cloak. In the morning the flower turned blue and thereafter the plant was called Rose of Mary.

There are few varieties that do display an unusual pink or white flower,but most of the dozen or so varieties have a tiny blue or mauve flower.

Rosemary belongs to the mint/Labiate family and it's nativehabitat is the surrounding areas of the Mediterranean Sea and Portugal.Although these days it can be found in a great many countries as most rosemary is hardy to 15-20 degrees.

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There are many varieties of rosemary from which to choose, but they basically fall into two types.

Rosmarinis officinalis-
Commonly refers to the upright varieties of rosemary. These usually grow 18-24 inches high. Whilst they can get bushy, their main direction of growth is vertical.

Officinalis prostratis -
Refers to prostrate or creeping rosemary which, tends to grow close to the ground. It is a useful plant for rock gardens and hanging baskets. Both varieties are great for cooking and have equal medicinal properties.

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Medicinal values -

This herb is said to act as a stimulant to both the nervous and circulatory systems and helps to soothe the digestive system relieving indigestion and flatulence.It also can be used for treating flakey scalps.

Drinking a weak infusion of Rosemary may help to relieve nervous headaches and colds. Rosemary also makes a good antiseptic gargle.
Rosemary h


erb acts as a superb tonic for the whole body and detoxifies the liver, stimulates the brain and enhances energy.
It thus acquired a reputation for aiding memory. In Shakespeare?s Hamlet, Ophelia says, "There?s rosemary, that?s for remembrance?"

The leaves have essential oils which contain tannin and resin,and therefore should not be used in a medicinal way to very young children.

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Cullinary uses -

The leaves have a camphor like taste and smell,and is ideal for use in meat and game dishes,especially with roast lamb. It is also used in sausages,sauces, stews,soups, and salads. Rosemary is used to flavor wines, vinegar, oil and butter. Sprigs of rosemary can be thrown into barbecue grills to impart flavor to meat,as hickory chips are.
As I mentioned before,it can also be steeped in hot water to make a rosemary tea infusion,very benificial!!

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Towards the end of September you can harvest surpless rosemary simply by cutting back your bush.This can then be easily dried for use of the winter months.
You can dry it using a variety of methods,but the most effective ways are to either cut several stems of it,tie them at one end by string and then hang them in a dry warm place,covered by a paper bag.
Alternatively strip the leaves off the stem and place them in a slightly warm (not hot) oven for a few hours.When the moisture has mostly bee removed they will break up easily in the hand for storage in air tight jars.

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All in all,this is a great herb plant.Whether you use it for cooking,medicinal purposes or simply as an attractive and fragrant garden shrub,or all three.

*** Thankyou for reading ***

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