A perennial plant growing 1 to 2 feet high, sage produces small, green-gray and deeply veined leaves, with the intensity of the flavor growing stronger as the plant ages. A member of the mint family and closely related to rosemary, its warm and musky essence is essential for making the fragrant dressing that goes so well with turkey.
Sage comes in various forms: Russian sage is known for its lavender-purple flowers and ornamental applications, while the common sage is regarded for its pungent aroma widely used in cooking. Another popular sage variant used in cooking is pineapple sage, which bears bright red flowers and a sweet fragrance that goes well in teas.
Golden sage has variegated leaves, and purple sage indicates the color of leaf and flower it produces. Tricolor is just that, with white, purple and green variegated leaves. Three-lobed sage denotes three leaves to a stem. Sage usually comes in one of three ways: fresh, ground and "rubbed."
Rubbed sage is made by rubbing dried sage leaves until they turn into a fine powder that is extremely light and fluffy. Fresh sage is the most flavorful and fragrant, making the most pungent recipes. When fresh sage isn't readily available, your best bet is ground sage, although it tends to lose its strength after a year or so. It's best stored in a cool, dark place, in a glass jar with a tightly fitted lid.
Sage pairs well with cheese. Sprinkling roughly chopped sage leaves near the end of caramelizing onions or mushrooms, egg bakes, omelets and even tea are other delicious ways to use this herb.
How to Choose Good Sage
If you're growing your own sage plants, it's important to know the best harvesting time for optimal flavor. According to Gardening Know How, baby sage leaves taste best, but mature leaves are viable, too. Try not to harvest too much during the fall and winter to help your plants stay strong. To choose the best leaves, pick thoses that have a vibrant green-gray color and are free from spots and yellowing.
Health Benefits of Sage
Sage is known for its antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Volatile oils (distilled from the blossoms) contain the phenolic flavonoids apigenin, diosmetin and luteolin, plus rosmarinic acid, which can be easily absorbed into the body.
Medicinally used for muscle aches, rheumatism and aromatherapy, these oils also contain ketones, including A- and B-thujone, which may help enhance mental clarity and memory. These properties may be useful in treating cognitive decline and patients suffering from Alzheimer's. In fact, sage, made into a drink from the leaves, has been called the "thinker's tea.
Sage: Fungus Fighter
This herb’s nature is geared toward fighting fungus. Consuming sage is wonderful for healing fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and jock itch from the inside out, as well as tackling mutant strains of fungus in the intestinal tract.
If you’ve been exposed to toxic mold, turn to sage to help detoxify. Also, sage helps remove toxic heavy metals from the intestinal tract.
How To Use:
Use fresh sage on or in your meals, such as in salads, soups, stews, Healing Broth, stir-fries, dips, marinara, sauces, dressings, on top of steamed vegetables, pasta, and so on.
Sage, rosemary, thyme, and oregano have complementary qualities, so it’s helpful to keep a rotation of these herbs in your diet or consume them together.
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