Rosemary is a typical spice for many Mediterranean dishes, and the herb has always been used in medicine.
origin and occurrence
The plant originates from the dry maquis of the Mediterranean region and thrives primarily on the Iberian Peninsula as well as in Greece and Croatia. Today rosemary grows almost everywhere in Europe and America, but especially in the wine-growing regions. In colder regions of the continental climate, however, the subshrub is only partially hardy, although some special breeds have now been specially selected for these regions.
Botanical characteristics and appearance
Rosemary is a perennial, evergreen subshrub of the mint family. Thus, the plant is closely related to other Mediterranean herbs such as thyme and lavender and needs similar growing conditions and care to them. The shrub can grow up to two meters high and becomes lignified with age. The dark green leaves are very similar in shape to pine needles and emit a characteristic odor when rubbed between your fingers. Between March and May, the numerous violet, blue, pink or white flowers appear, which are often used as pasture by bees, butterflies and bumblebees. The flowers are arranged in panicles.
use
The needle-like leaves are harvested during and after flowering and are used both dried and fresh mainly in Mediterranean cuisine. Due to its intense, tart aroma, rosemary should only be used sparingly. Dried rosemary needles, which are added at the beginning and cooked, have a particularly good taste. Rosemary goes particularly well with
- all kinds of meat (especially chicken, pork and sheep)
- Mediterranean vegetables (tomatoes, aubergines, zucchini etc.)
- Potatoes (rosemary potatoes)
- game and fish dishes
- spicy sauces and soups (e.g. tomato soup)
- Cheese.
Furthermore, rosemary oil, which is rich in essential oils, is used in naturopathy, but mostly only externally. Rosemary oil can be added to a steam bath, for example, to calm the nervous system or stimulate circulation. Rosemary also stimulates the digestive system, which is why the herb makes heavy and greasy dishes more digestible.
tips and tricks
Due to its menstrual-promoting effect, pregnant women should avoid intensive use of rosemary as a spice or medicinal herb.
IJA