Download Sir Thomas Moore believed the herb to be sacred to remembrance

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. Though everyone knows it tastes good with lamb, it is also instrumental in helping
digest fatty meat, which is why it is also good with roast vegetables. Rosemary tea drunk first thing in
the morning is a useful hangover cure.
Description
Rosemary is an aromatic, woody, perennial, evergreen Mediterranean herb. It has light blue or pink
flowers and grayish-green leaves which are used as a seasoning in cooking and to scent cosmetics. The
leaves look like flat pine-tree needles, deep green in color on top while silver-white on their underside.
Rosemary
Rosemary is drought tolerant, requires little fertilizer and always looks crisp and graceful even on a hot
summer day. The pine-scented bushy evergreen thrives in sunny locations and loves well-drained soils. It
is native to the sunny hillsides and open valleys along the Mediterranean coast of Portugal, Spain,
Morocco and Tunisia.
It is a member of the mint family, which includes other popular seasonings such as basil, oregano, sage,
and thyme. Rosemary is a common ingredient in French and Italian dishes. The flavor hints of both
lemon and pine. It can be used to flavor stews, entrees, soups, and casseroles, and may be added to
various dressings. It is a component of the popular Italian seasoning.
Legendary Background
Since the eternal times rosemary has been known as the “herb of remembrance.”
Usage of rosemary dates back to 500 b.c., when it was used as a culinary and medicinal herb by the
ancient Greeks and Romans
It was in the old times said that rosemary will grow particularly well in gardens tended by strongwilled women.
Young brides traditionally carried a sprig of rosemary in their wreaths or wedding bouquets. The
young couple may even have been brought together with the magic of a touch of rosemary, as in the
refrain of an old ballad: “Young men and maids do ready stand/With sweet rosemary in their hands.”
Greek scholars wore a bit of the pungent herb in their hair when studying in order to improve their
levels of concentration.
The fragrant herb was exchanged between friends as a symbol of loyalty
Rosemary was tossed onto the graves of departed loved ones. In ancient Egypt the herb was buried
with the pharaohs.
Gypsy travelers sought rosemary for its use as a rinse for highlighting dark hair or as a rejuvenating
face wash
In the fourteenth century, Queen Isabella of Hungary used an alcohol extract of the flowering herb to
treat gout
In the 16th and 17th centuries, rosemary became popular as a digestive aid in apothecaries
Rosemary was believed to have magical powers to banish evil spirits. It was burned in sick rooms as a
disinfectant, and was used to ward off the plague
The shift in the consumer preference towards natural herbs and spices have in recent times boosted the
demand for rosemary. Spain, France and Egypt are the largest producers of Rosemary. The herbs is
widely used in the European countries for culinary and medicinal use. While most of the rosemary oil is
produced in France, Dalamatia, Spain and Japan.
Culinary Use
Rosemary herb is available in whole-leaf form (fresh and dried) as well as powdered form. It is used
primarily as a seasoning in a variety of dishes including fruit salads, soups, vegetables, meat (particularly
lamb), fish and egg dishes, stuffings and dressings. Rosemary leaves are added to marinades for Lamb as
it helps in taming the strong taste. It can be tastefully added to dishes that feature potatoes, squash,
tomatoes, peas and carrots. When used sparingly, rosemary adds an interesting flavor to cakes, baked
apples and biscuits. Apart from being used as a flavoring agent it is also used as a preservative. Following
are few quick serving tips:-
Add fresh rosemary to omelets and frittatas
Rosemary is a wonderful herb for seasoning chicken and lamb dishes
Add rosemary to tomato sauces and soups
Puree fresh rosemary leaves with olive oil and use as a dipping sauce for bread.
Nutritional Value
Rosemary is a good source of the minerals iron and calcium, as well as dietary fiber. Fresh rosemary has
25% more manganese (which is somehow lost in the process of drying) and a 40% less calcium and iron,
probably due to the higher water content.
Medicinal Use
The stimulant and analgesic properties of the herb makes it useful in many medicinal preparations. The
fresh or dried leaves and flowering tops of rosemary are used for a variety of medicinal benefits. In
traditional European medicine, rosemary has been used internally as a tonic, stimulant, and as a
carminative to treat flatulence. It is also used to treat dyspepsia, mild gastrointestinal upsets, colds,
headaches, and nervous tension. In India and China, rosemary leaves are used to treat headaches. In
America rosemary has been for long been used as an antispasmodic, to stimulate the appetite and
improve digestion. Today, rosemary is recognized for its ability to stimulate bile secretion and for its
anti-inflammatory properties. People gargle rosemary tea to help heal mouth ulcers and canker sores.
Rosemary oil can be distilled from the leaves of the plant, mixed with a vegetable oil, and used for
massage. Applied externally this oil is used for relief from muscular and arthritic pain. In Europe,
rosemary oil is used to treat rheumatic conditions, bruises, and circulatory problems. When applied
externally the oil appears to stimulate an increased blood supply. In addition, rosemary oil or some
freshly cut sprigs can be added to bath water to soothe aching muscles and joints.
Two of the most important ingredients in rosemary, which are thought to be largely responsible for
many of these therapeutic actions, are caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid – both are potent antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory agents.These two natural acids are effective at reducing inflammation which may
contribute to asthma, liver disease and heart disease.