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History
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Rosemary is considered to be the
herb of fidelity. If you sprinkle
some around the house it is said to
bring good luck and protection.
It was believed to stimulate the
brain and help the memory. Students in ancient Greece wore
garlands of rosemary around their
necks, or braided rosemary into
their hair during exams.
Rosemary has been used at weddings,
funerals, and even to ward off the
plague. Rosemary stood for
fidelity and was included in bridal
bouquets. Sir Thomas
Moore believed the herb to be sacred
to remembrance and friendship. In
Hamlet, Ophelia said, "There's
rosemary, that's for remembrance."
According to legend, rosemary was
used to awaken Sleeping Beauty. The old
custom of leaving rosemary
at the graveside and for
handing a bunch of it to those
bereaved is carried on to this
day. Before
the advent of modern medicine
rosemary was burned, along with
juniper berries, as a disinfectant
in French hospitals.
An old French term for
rosemary was incensier -
incense. Because Rosemary was
easily harvested from the wild
it was an incense used by the
poor or lower classes as a
substitute for expensive
frankincense or myrrh-based
incense in ancient Greece and
Rome. The upper class and
nobility could afford the more
costly imported resins.
Growing
Rosemary & Varieties
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Rosemary is an herb in
the labiatae (mint) family.
A tender shrub with glossy, strongly
scented, evergreen needlelike leaves
with a flashy light stripe below and
blue, lavender, or white flowers.
Flowers are borne on old growth in
late winter. When grown outside in
warm climates (zones 8-10), most
rosemary cultivars can grow up to 6
feet high. Prostrate forms creep
along the ground.
Gardeners will find an added benefit
to growing their own rosemary, as it
is a natural insect repellant.
In warm climates, plant rosemary in
well-drained soil and full sun,
spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart.
Prune lightly to shape. In cold
climates, grow rosemary in pots to
bring indoors during winter. Put
them in a sunny window or under
artificial lights. Use well-drained
potting mix and be careful you don't
water so much that the soil gets
soggy. Fertilize once a month during
the growing season with dilute,
balanced, organic fertilizer.
In zone 7, try extra-hardy 'Arp' or
'Hill Hardy'. For a bright white
flower, grow R. officinalis 'Albus'.
For baskets or ground covers, try
low-growing creeping rosemary, R.
officinalis 'Prostratus'.
Start
new plants by layering or stem
cuttings. Rosemary will grow
from seed, but the process is slow
and is not always successful. Start
indoors and transplant the
seedlings. Darkness will aid
germination. Cover seeds
lightly after sowing. Germination time
14-21 days. Sow heavily
because the seeds have a poor
germination rate. Some seeds
can
germinate up to 3 months after
sowing.
This herb needs particular
care to survive the winter.
When digging up, dig wide and
deep. Use a good potting
mix and organic compost (not
too much if it is a moist
variety --this will be too
strong in a pot and may
contribute to root rot).
Make sure it is well drained,
well watered and spray the
leaves with water every so
often, especially if you have
the heat up.
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Medicinal
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Rosemary contains primarily borneol, camphor, eucalyptol and
pinene in its essential oils, which can irritate the skin. Yet,
surprisingly enough, it is also used in rheumatic liniments and
ointments for its soothing effect. This herb also has sedative,
diuretic, stomach relief, aromatic, antispasmodic and antiseptic
properties, and is thought to be particularly beneficial in the
treatment of fatigue and neuralgia. Those with sensitive skin can
suffer contact dermatitis from cosmetics scented with rosemary
oils, or from prolonged handling of the plant.
Rosemary stimulates the circulation and contains chemicals called quinones, which
have been shown in laboratory studies to inhibit carcinogens. Thus, this herb is ranked high on the list of cancer-prevention
and reduction foods. It has been used to treat dizziness due to inner ear
problems, nerve conditions, headaches, halitosis, stomach
ailments and as pain-reducers.
Cooking
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Rosemary has a strong flavor. Use it
in
bouquet garni with chicken, meat, vegetable, and tomato
dishes. Added to soups, stews, sauces and bouillons. Dried
rosemary leaves should be either wrapped in cheesecloth to be
removed later or crushed with a mortar and pestle before adding
to any recipe as the leaves can be sharp in the mouth when left
whole.
Use fresh sprigs as skewers for
shish-ka-bobs or fish. Toss sprigs on the BBQ coals to add
flavor to all grilled foods. The blue rosemary flowers can be
used in salads and as garnishes.
Adding Rosemary to your tea gives a unique flavor that is good
for soothing and cooling, and a great thirst quencher. Wash
a 2-4" sprig and add it to your teapot. Let steep for 2-3
minutes or longer, for a more potent flavor. Try a sprig in
your lemonade to give it an even more refreshing flavor.
Rosemary in any marinade will give it a refreshing and
peppy flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of powdered or 2
teaspoons of crushed Rosemary leaves to every 2 tablespoons
of olive oil. With a dash of your favorite soy or
tamari sauce it makes an easy glaze for your vegetables.
Recipes
Corn and
Pork Kebabs with Rosemary Green Beans and Potatoes
Creme
Caramel
Braised
Fennel with Rosemary
Garlic-Rosemary Oil
Grilled
Chicken Breast with Corn & Tomato Salsa
Noodles
with Smoked Pork and Rosemary
Orange
Rosemary Syrup
Rosemary
Steak
Spiced
Oil
Tomato-Rosemary Salad
Trout
with Garlic and Rosemary
Walnut
Rosemary Quinoa
Zesty
Rosemary-Rye Sticks
more recipes with Rosemary
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