John Myers
The evergreen sage bush grows up to 80 cm tall and belongs to the mint family. It is characterized by its oval, grey-green and hairy leaves, which contain plenty of beneficial essential oils. The plant probably also owes its name to them: This is derived from the word “salvere”, which means “to be healthy”.
Origin
The ancient Romans already appreciated the healing power of sage, including as a home remedy for colds. However, it only became really popular as a kitchen herb in the Middle Ages, when the aromatic herb was used to season fatty dishes, wine, and mead. Originally, sage was a wild herb that was mainly native to the Balkans and the wider Mediterranean area. Today sage bushes are cultivated all over Europe.
Season
The sage plant is very robust and survives the winter months. Harvesting takes place from spring to summer, with the best time to harvest being before flowering. At this time, the leaves are particularly aromatic. Sage is available in pots and fresh all year round.
Taste
The velvety, furry leaves are very aromatic and have a spicy, sometimes slightly bitter taste. The old sage sticks in particular produce very aromatic leaves.
Use
Holiday feelings are awakened: Because sage is mainly at home in Mediterranean cuisine. Many pasta dishes are refined with the aromatic leaves. To do this, it is best to briefly put the sage in hot butter and later add it to the sauce. But sage also goes well with fish or meat – as the Italian specialty “Saltimbocca alla Romana” with veal and ham proves. But the spicy leaves also taste great as a tea. Get more inspiration from our sage recipes.
Storage
Simply place the cut stems in a glass of water or store them in a freezer bag in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. But the aromatic leaves are also very suitable for freezing: simply place the sage between two layers of aluminum foil coated with oil. The leaves stay nice and soft and can be defrosted in portions.
Durability
If stored properly, sage in a bunch will only keep for a few days. Fresh sage in a pot, on the other hand, can be harvested all year round.
Nutritional value/active ingredients
Sage provides per 100 g: 54 kcal (224 kJ), 1.7 g protein, 6.9 g carbohydrates, and 2.1 g fat, as well as essential oils and secondary plant substances that give sage its aroma. Since sage is mainly used as a flavoring ingredient (in small amounts), it is negligible as a nutrient supplier.
