SAGE

Culinary & Medicinal

SAGE
♣ sage is a strong, bittersweet, warm-spicy, herbaceous, musky, camphor-like aromatic herb
✲ flowers are purple to white and taste sweet;  a delicate treat.
♣ fresh or dry sage retains its flavours – dried sage is often stronger
♣ sage throws a hefty herbaceous flavour punch, a little goes a long way
♣ the moment I feel a cold/flu creeping in I make a sage tea; an effective remedy. 

FOOD FLAVOUR PAIRINGS
Herbs: parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, lovage, mint, bronze fennel, chamomile, nettle
Spices: ginger, juniper, allspice, clove, nutmeg, cumin, mustard, coriander, sumac
Vegetables: cabbage, celery, carrot, root veg, squash, pumpkin, onion, tomatoes, artichokes
Fruits: apples, pineapple, lime, orange, grapefruit, cranberry, fresh currants
Nuts & Seeds: walnuts, hazelnuts, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, chestnuts
Beans & Grains:  white beans, hardy grains, rice, corn, wheat bread, pasta
Non-Dairy: nutritional yeast, tahini, tempeh
Dairy: butter, blue cheese, strong hard cheese
Animal: eggs, anchovies, oily fish, chicken, turkey, pork, beef, lamb, game 

CREATE
Mix  make a sage sunflower seed dukkah 
Saute in olive oil/butter + garlic to make a crispy pungent garnish
Stuff your roasting meats and season festive dishes with fresh or dried sage 
Blend fresh/dry in  herbal butter, vinaigrettes, marinades
Infuse herbal tea, in honey for a sore throat cold/flu remedy, flavour vinegar
Shake in cocktails with ginger or citrus,  blend aperitifs or digestif for digestive benefits 
Clean use in cleaning products due to antibacterial, antiseptic properties  

STORE
Fresh sage in a vase is my preferred method, lasts for weeks, refresh the water regularly
Freeze sage you can but since it dries so well I don’t tend to freeze it.  
Infuse fresh honey, salt, butter, ghee, vinegar, alcohol
Dry in a paper bag or drying rack away from direct sunlight in an airy place. Store dried herbs in sealed glass jars in a dark cupboard.

MEDICINAL
Sage Officinalis, common sage, is different from Clary Sage and White Sage
♦ sage is astringent, drying; aids excess mucus, night sweats, gum health
♦ sage is a nutritive stimulant tonic from digestion to the liver to depression
♦ sage is a potent anti-septic great for sore throats, colds and flu’s
♦ anti-spasmodic properties help soothe muscles and respiratory system
♦ aids digestion stimulates digestive enzymes, helps soothe indigestion
♦ anti-inflammatory and a potent antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-fungal
♦ high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals:
♦ sage supports women’s hormonal health and cycles
♦ sage essential oil, use with caution. Externally Only. I like to use short-term in clearing tonic blends and when I feel cold, flu and fatigue symptoms.