Which Sage Can I Eat?

Garden or common sage (Salvia officinalis) is the most common type of sage used for cooking. You can also make tea from the leaves. It is very hardy and bounces back in the spring even after a severely cold winter. This particular sage has soft, silvery green leaves that can be used fresh or dried.

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, brilliant red or pink or blue flowers, and more.

Is any sage poisonous?

Some species of sage, such as common sage (Salvia officinalis), contain a chemical called thujone. Thujone can be poisonous if you get enough. This chemical can cause seizures and damage to the liver and nervous systems.

Can you eat sage from the garden?

Taken in high doses, the compound thujone contained in garden sage may cause convulsions. Since thujone is volatile, most of it dissipates when sage is cooked, so the culinary use of sage is safe.

Is it OK to eat raw sage?

Sage is primarily used as a flavoring for fatty meats, sausages, beans and vegetables. The herb is rarely, if ever, used raw, because its aroma and flavor is best released when cooked (plus the herb is a little bit too pungent to be consumed raw).

Is white sage poisonous?

White sage contains a toxic compound known as thujone. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this compound increases your heart rate and causes mental confusion. It also leads to vomiting, restlessness and kidney complications. Hence, you should exercise caution when using white sage.

Is garden sage the same as white sage?

White sage is native to the southwest and prefers dry, almost desert conditions, while garden sage is native to the Mediterranean and Spain and needs regular watering (not drought tolerant).

Can you eat white sage?

Though not as commonly used as garden sage for cooking, white sage can also be used as a culinary herb. Used in many of the same ways to flavor dishes that garden sage also improves, like lamb, stews, and breads, white sage lends a savory flavor to your favorite dish.

Is Wild sage poisonous?

Sage is considered safe with no reported side effects ( 46 ). However, some people are concerned about thujone, a compound found in common sage. Animal research has found that high doses of thujone may be toxic to the brain ( 47 ). That said, there is no good evidence that thujone is toxic to humans ( 48 ).

Can I smoke Russian sage?

Russian sage has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and is smoked as a euphoriant. In addition to its use in folk medicine, it is sometimes used in Russia to flavor a vodka-based cocktail.

How can you tell if sage is edible?

Salvia officinalis
Come closer to the herb and observe its leaves and stems for the following characteristics found in sage: purple or green woody, square stems covered in a fine down. Leaves have a leathery texture also covered with soft hair and are stalked and opposite.

Can you eat common sage?

The stems, leaves, and flowers of common sage are edible. For perennial growers in the warmest regions, they are available for harvesting year-round. Some folks like to pinch growing tips regularly to keep plants from flowering, claiming it results in better leaf flavor.

Is Cooking sage the same as smudging sage?

Is there a difference between cooking sage and white sage that is burned? Yes. White sage (Salvia apiana) is used for ceremonial purposes: the dried leaves are burned for ritual cleansing. It is not used for cooking.

Can I chew sage leaves?

helping to relieve muscle and joint pain. promoting oral health (long before toothpaste was invented, many people chewed sage leaves to clean their teeth, and studies show it does have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties) soothing a sore throat. easing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause.

What happens if you eat sage leaves?

The herb is able to enhance memory and alleviate depression. Sage has been used for centuries to assist Alzheimer’s disease and other mental disorders. It also improves memory and cognition and increases alertness, calmness and contentedness.

What is black sage used for?

It can be a spiritual tool
Smudging has long been used to connect to the spiritual realm or enhance intuition. For healers and laypeople in traditional cultures, burning sage is used to achieve a healing state — or to solve or reflect upon spiritual dilemmas.

What is the difference between white sage and Clary Sage?

While Sage is strong, spicy, and clarifying, Clary Sage is gentle and soothing with a sweet, floral fragrance.

What kind of sage is used for cooking?

Salvia officinalis
There are many varieties of sage, but the species used for culinary purposes is known as common sage, garden sage, kitchen sage, or Salvia officinalis. Sage has a unique flavor that brings warmth and complexity to dishes.

What is the difference between white sage and desert sage?

Each have their own unique qualities. For example, blue sage is often used in cleansing and healing rituals, while desert sage is used more for purifying and protection. White Sage is used for releasing what is troubling the mind and for removing negative energy. It is also used for cleansing homes and sacred items.

Can you burn any kind of sage?

What Type of Sage Do You Burn? Sage comes in several varieties. Healers and herbalists typically use white sage, also known as California or bee sage, for burning. Common sage, lavender sage, blue sage, black sage, and other types each have their own unique qualities, Yeager says.

Can you eat blue sage?

The leaves and flowers are edible and can be eaten raw, cooked or used as a garnish.