For ages, Sage has been praised and utilised for its healing properties. Having a rich history, its documented usage goes back to the time of the ancient Romans, who regarded the herb so highly that they included it in their sacred ceremonies, as well as to the time of the ancient Greeks, who used it to improve memory. Additionally, it was used as a medical herb to treat a variety of illnesses.
Belonging to the family Lamiaceae, the same that includes mint, Sage also known as common sage, is an evergreen subshrub; the plant reaches a height upto 2ft tall and has soft, fuzzy leaves, and blue, white or purplish flowers that bloom in late spring or summer. It is native to the Mediterranean region and goes by the botanical name Salvia officinalis.
Healing properties
There are multiple kinds of the herb, including garden, white, purple, and mexican bush sage to name a few.
Most types are planted for their culinary or medicinal use, yet some are also grown as ornamentals because of their lovely leaves and flowers.
The demand for this herb in culinary is by far the highest; it is described as having an earthy, somewhat peppery flavour with undertones of mint, and lemon. It is used as a flavouring in a variety of cuisines, either fresh or dried. Fried leaves can be crumbled over a meal at the last minute to heighten flavour, while fresh ones can be used in drinks and beverages for an instant herbal flavour boost. Additionally, it can be added to give sauces, meat marinades, pastries, and breads a herbal flavour.
The plant includes essential minerals such magnesium, zinc, and copper as well as a significant amount of vitamin K, along with minor amounts of the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E.
For medicinal purposes, the plant is used to treat headaches, joint discomforts, common colds, sage may also help with brain chemical imbalances that impair memory and thinking skill. Fresh sage was also used as teeth cleansers for better breath. Furthermore, it is also prominent for being an instrument for energy cleansing.
Sage is burned to expel negative energy from individuals and places, which can improve the mood and may help with stress relief. It also has antibacterial qualities, this implies that they deter the growth of contagious bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
More to its purpose
Sage honey, a coveted monofloral kind because of its low moisture content and incredibly slow crystallisation rate, is one of the products made from sage. Black Button, White, and Purple Sage are the three most common sage varieties used to create honey.
California is the world’s greatest producer of sage honey, and the majority of the product in the market hails from the United States. Greece is one of the major producers of the same in Europe. The Dalmatian Island in Croatia is regarded for having the best sage in the world, and the honey produced there is widely sought after for its unique flavour.
Sage essential oils are another product made from the herb, these essential oils are steam distilled from the herb’s leaves.
The unique leaves are also used for tea, an aromatic infusion produced from sage leaves. In ancient cultures, people drank this tea for general well-being and sometimes referred to the herb as “sage the saviour” because of all the benefits it provides.
Sage was first made into a tea by the French, and once the Chinese sampled it, they went in search of the plant and exchanged huge quantities of Chinese tea for a small bit of the newly discovered delicacy.
The ideal locations to cultivate and export sage are in Mediterranean nations. With Turkey being one of the world’s largest producers and exporters.
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