The Wonders of Sage | Culinary Uses, Healing Benefits & Memory Boosting Tea

There are over nine hundred species of sage that come in many colors, sizes, and shapes. Some are used in the kitchen while others are classified as ornamental. I love to decorate the garden with ornamentals. Their blooms come in many colors, including red, pink, coral, lavender, purple, and rich shades of blue. Ornamental sage flowers have tube-shaped necks with wide open lips that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.

Common Sage

Though there will always be a place in my garden for the ornamentals, my favorite sage grows in the garden but can also be found in my spice cupboard. It is often referred to as garden or common sage. The botanical name is Salvia Officinalis. Salvia, the Latin word for sage, means ‘the healing plant’ and its older root, salvare means ‘to save’.

For thousands of years the pungent leaves of this healing herb have been used as medicine in Europe and Asia. During the sixteenth century cooks began to add the leaves to sausage, pasta, sauces, cheese and meat dishes. Today, common sage continues to share its many culinary and therapeutic gifts with us.

A Sharp Memory

In 1597, a well-known herbalist, John Gerard, wrote about sage in The Herbal. He stated, “Sage is singular good for the head and braine: it quickeneth the senses and memory…”

For centuries folks have sipped sage tea to improve memory. Now scientific studies have shown they were right. In England, students who took a sage supplement performed better and faster on memory tests. Students also felt calmer and more content for many hours afterward. After reading the study, I started adding a few sage leaves to my morning tea. Sage tea is nice when mixed with mint or rosemary and lemon balm and is also a tasty stress reliever.

From Head to Toe

Though sage is good for your memory, it might also help the rest of your body too. Common garden sage was used as medicine long before it was popular in the kitchen. Did you know a cup of sage tea relieves a stuffy head cold? It can also break fevers and take the soreness away from a sore throat.

After a full meal, sage tea is a wonderful carminative for easing gas, and bloating while aiding digestion.

Use the cooled tea as a mouth wash to sweeten breath and heal canker sores.

Powdered sage leaves can be made into a toothpowder that is astringent (great for weak or swollen gums) and antimicrobial.

Do you have sore muscles? Take a sage bath. Your relaxed muscles will thank you and you’ll sleep peacefully.

Turkey Stuffing and So Much More

To enjoy the savory flavor of sage:

Add the spice to your turkey stuffing.

Enliven soup, stews, and casseroles with chopped sage.

Roast chicken with sage leaves.

Spread sage butter on freshly baked bread.

Sprinkle dried sage on buttered popcorn or on your next slice of pizza.

Future posts will feature additional ways to enjoy the culinary and healing benefits of sage.

Note: Sage should be used sparingly during pregnancy. Sage can dry up the flow of milk during lactation. Unless a mother wishes to wean, sage should only be used in small amounts while breast feeding.