Author: Marilyn Medina

Sage (Salvia officinalis ) is native to the Mediterranean and naturalized throughout Europe and North America. Known as garden sage, meadow sage, and true sage, this pungent herb is a member of the Lamiaceae, or mint, family. Where is sage commonly found? Mediterranean regionsage, (Salvia officinalis), also called common sage or garden sage, aromatic herb […]

History. It is probable that Sage was used in ancient Egypt to treat stomach ailments, toothache and asthma. It was listed in the Ebers Papyrus (1500 BC) as a remedy for itching. Followers of Hippocrates praised its styptic and strengthening qualities as well as its beneficial effects on menstruation. What is an Egyptian sage? Egyptian […]

The Aztecs ground up sage seeds and used it to make a drink called ‘chianzotzolatoli. ‘ Sage is still used in Mexico to make drinks with lemon and sugar (3). The practice of burning sage to cleanse a person, a group of people, and even a space has been done cross culturally for decades. What […]

The leaves and flowers are edible and can be eaten raw, cooked or used as a garnish. Can all types of sage be eaten? Not all varieties of sage are edible. And while you can happily grow a diversity of culinary garden sage plants, there’s also a lot of different types with gorgeous flower spikes, […]

Bay leaf and sage might look alike in shape and size, but they are entirely different herbs. Bay leaves are best used in soups, stews, sauces, and beans. What is this? Sage is best used when making stuffing, poultry, pork, pasta, potatoes, with onions and walnuts, or paired with cheese. Can bay leaves be used […]

As the name suggests, black sage would be dark in appearance, especially during drought. Compared to the other sage, like the white sage, black sage has a stronger and heavier aroma. What is black sage used for? It can be a spiritual tool Smudging has long been used to connect to the spiritual realm or […]

Thanks to its strong flavor and aroma, sage should be added early in the cooking process, rather than at the end of cooking like many delicate herbs. Frying a strong herb like sage mellows its flavor. Fried sage can be crumbled over a dish to heighten flavor at the last moment. Can you use common […]

Big sagebrush flourishes throughout North America’s Great Basin and sagebrush steppe. One of more than a dozen species of Artemesia, big, or tall, sagebrush is the most common, ranging from as far south as New Mexico all the way up into the Dakotas, Montana, and British Columbia. What states have sage brush? The 11 western […]

Dried sage is usually sold ground or rubbed. Ground sage is made by grinding the entire leaf into a fine powder while rubbed sage is made by rubbing dried whole sage leaves to create a light and fluffy mix. Can you substitute ground sage for dried sage? Different Forms of Sage Sage is more pungent […]

It’s recommended that fresh sage leaves are not eaten raw, as their flavors are harsh. Rather, sage, known as faksomilo to the Greeks, should be cooked or minced to use in meals that involve squash, poultry, stews, and more. Fresh sage leaves should be aromatic and have no soft spots or dry edges. Can you […]

That’s because white sage, scientific name salvia apiana, is native to the Southwest of America and northwest of Mexico. It is a sacred plant to tribes such as the Lakota, Comanche, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Navajo. Do other cultures use white sage? A big one is the fact that sage has historically been used as an […]

Sage is one of those herbs you’ll hear a lot about as the holiday menus roll out. It’s typically paired with rosemary, marjoram and thyme for tofurkey stuffings and roasted vegetables. The flavor of sage is savory. It’s faintly piney, though not like juniper. Are rosemary and sage similar? Rosemary This highly aromatic Mediterranean herb […]

Rosemary is not a separate species of plant after all — it is a sage, the Royal Horitcultural Society (RHS) has ruled as they tell gardeners to change their plant labels. The RHS is to adopt a change in the scientific name for rosemary after research has shown that is in fact a salvia, or […]

If you’re a more adventurous gardener, or if (like me) you’re painfully cheap, you can also grow white sage from seed pretty easily. Seeds should be planted in spring if you’re growing your small plants in a seed tray or small containers. Can I grow my own sage for smudging? You can use a number […]

Sage’s pine-like taste is not too dissimilar from mint’s sharp flavors. While it might not go well with Mediterranean sauces, it can be used brilliantly with chicken and pork. Mint is slightly more striking in taste though, so try to only use half as much mint as you would sage. Are mint and sage related? […]