Different herb varieties have different characteristics. Although closely related, white sage (salvia apiana) and common garden sage (salvia officinalis) are different in both appearance and use.
Is garden sage regular sage?
sage, (Salvia officinalis), also called common sage or garden sage, aromatic herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae) cultivated for its pungent edible leaves. Sage is native to the Mediterranean region and is used fresh or dried as a flavouring in many foods, particularly in stuffings for poultry and pork and in sausages.
Is garden sage the same as cooking sage?
Garden Sage
Also called common sage or culinary sage. This is one of the most common types of sage, is deliciously edible (including the flowers), and has dozens of cultivars that range wildly in color.
Can I use garden sage for smudging?
Garden or common sage will do the trick, too. Other smudging plants to use include cedar, sweetgrass, and sagebrush. Various herbs and wildflowers make as wonderful additions to your smudge stick. Resinous herbs you may have laying around that you can use include thyme, yarrow, lavender, rosemary, and pine.
What do you use garden sage for?
Gardeners add the uniquely flavored leaves of common garden sage, an herbaceous perennial, to sauces, stuffings, poultry, pork, and sausage. It provides a lovely fragrance and flavor to a dish, especially when leaves are sautéed before adding. It is a good fall and winter plant in hot climates.
What is garden sage good for?
Sage contains vitamins A and C, along with several other antioxidants which help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer. It’s also rich in vitamin K, which aids the body in clotting blood. Since sage is usually taken in small amounts, it provides a high amount of nutrition without a lot of calories.
Can you burn any kind of sage?
What Type of Sage Do You Burn? Sage comes in several varieties. Healers and herbalists typically use white sage, also known as California or bee sage, for burning. Common sage, lavender sage, blue sage, black sage, and other types each have their own unique qualities, Yeager says.
What type of sage is used for smudging?
White sage
White sage is probably the most common and popular herb for smudging. It is associated with purity and has a strong and heavy presence. It’s very useful when you need a major space cleansing.
Which sage is not edible?
Ornamental salvias, like ‘May Night’, tricolor salvia and annual salvia, are not edible. They’re not poisonous, but they’re nothing you’d want to put in soup. The edible salvias are usually referred to as sage, like the Salvia officinalis you use to flavor roasted chicken and turkey.
How do I identify garden sage?
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
The 2 to 3-inch long leaves are thick, opposite, oblong, and pointed. The stems are semi-woody and square. Color varies by cultivar, from grayish green, to variegated green and yellow, or green with purple and white. Spikes of purple flowers are produced on mature plants.
How can you tell if sage is edible?
Salvia officinalis
Come closer to the herb and observe its leaves and stems for the following characteristics found in sage: purple or green woody, square stems covered in a fine down. Leaves have a leathery texture also covered with soft hair and are stalked and opposite.
What is the difference between sages?
Each have their own unique qualities. For example, blue sage is often used in cleansing and healing rituals, while desert sage is used more for purifying and protection. White Sage is used for releasing what is troubling the mind and for removing negative energy. It is also used for cleansing homes and sacred items.
What is the best kind of sage?
The most popular sage on the market is White Sage and is considered a staple of any sage collection as it can be used to heal, cleanse, protect, and meditate. This plant is harvested by hand from the wilds of the American Southwest.
Can you use green sage for smudging?
“White sage is more crisp, biting and sharp,” he explains. Green sage, on the other hand, he explains, can be used to rid the air of bad vibes. Take note: Some people can have a strong aversion to white sage, Domitrovich says, whereas green sage is sweeter and gentler.
Do you dry sage before burning?
Do not cut stems from the plant until you are sure that it is able to sustain itself and will not die after you cut it. After cutting the sage, gather it in a bundle, tie it, and hang it in a dry place. It is dry enough when it crackles when squeezed.
How do you keep garden sage fresh?
Refrigerate Fresh Sage
To store, simply wrap the sage leaves in paper towels and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Make sure to use the leaves within four to five days. Fresh leaves that are covered in olive oil can be stored for much longer in the refrigerator, about three weeks.
How do you take care of garden sage?
How to Grow Sage
- Be sure to water the young plants regularly until they are fully grown so that they don’t dry out. They’ll need a consistent moisture supply until they start growing quickly.
- Prune the heavier, woody stems every spring.
- It’s best to replace the plants every few years so they remain productive.
What does burning sage in your house do?
Burning sage is is a powerful ritual
The ritual of sage burning has its roots in Native American tradition. Today, people burn sage and other holy herbs to cleanse a space or environment of negative energy, to generate wisdom and clarity, and to promote healing.
Does sage grow back every year?
A majority of herbs are perennials throughout most of the United States. That means they come back year after year and usually get bigger or spread in territory each year. Some of our most-used cooking herbs are perennials, including sage, oregano and thyme.
Which sage is best for cooking?
Garden or common sage (Salvia officinalis) is the most common type of sage used for cooking. You can also make tea from the leaves. It is very hardy and bounces back in the spring even after a severely cold winter. This particular sage has soft, silvery green leaves that can be used fresh or dried.
What does it mean when sage won’t stay lit?
Extra Tip – It’s a common problem that sometimes sage won’t stay lit. This is probably because there isn’t enough space between the sage sticks and oxygen can’t get through so it can keep it lit. Carefully loosen you smudge stick and you are good to go!