The healing qualities of the evergreen perennial and its aroma have been valued since ancient times. Depending on the varieties of rosemary, the aroma of eucalyptus and camphor is mixed with notes of lemon, pine, and the tenderness of the sea. Grass bushes are found naturally, on the Mediterranean coast, in nearby mountains and forests. The plant is valued and grown for its decorative flowers, but more for its use as a spice for food and medicinal purposes.
The evergreen perennial rosemary is translated from Latin as dew of the sea, the plant is a member of the Lamiaceae family. Erect grass shoots reach a height of 0.5 to 2 meters. They are densely leafy. The linear leaves of the leathery type are 1.5-3 centimeters long. The plates are narrow with curved edges. The needle-shaped leaves are shiny, green, dark or light in color at the top, and pubescent at the bottom. The foliage is located opposite on dark gray shoots.
During the active period of life, the bushes are covered with small flowers, collected in dense panicles of purple, less often white color. In the second half of summer, the plant produces seeds, small, brown in color.
The main biological qualities of the spicy culture include:
Although rosemary prefers to grow in permeable soils, it can also tolerate dry, sandy, gravelly soils. Bushes are planted on slopes for landscaping and soil fixation.
The flowering of the decorative perennial lasts 3-4 weeks, starting in April. Seeds can be collected in late summer.
Rosemary is used on the southern slopes of the garden, free from weeds. During the growing season it needs feeding. From the second year of life, plantings of fragrant spices are fed with superphosphate in the fall, and in the spring with ammonium sulfate at the location of the root system of the crop.
The herb harvest is harvested in July-August, when the plantation is 3-4 years old.. Essential oil is extracted from shoots and leaves. The collected leaves are dried in the shade under a canopy and added to drinks and dishes. In dry form, the grass can be preserved for 3 years.
The leaves and tops of flowering shoots of the subshrub contain an essential oil that is part of medicinal preparations. Consisting of pinene, camphene, cineole, camphor and other substances, it is used for the manufacture of perfumes and alcoholic beverages.
An infusion of perennial leaves helps to cope with:
The herb is added to smoking mixtures to relieve asthma attacks. External use of leaf infusion is necessary to combat inflammation of the mouth and throat, boils, and acne. The solution is added to baths for neuritis and inflammation of the genital area in women and men.
In cosmetology, the herb is used to improve the condition of the skin and hair. It is effective for baldness.
As part of spicy compositions, the plant is necessary to flavor poultry dishes and sauces. Add the herb to tea.
Under natural conditions, there are several varieties of evergreen perennial. But two types are used in indoor floriculture and gardening: medicinal, or ordinary, rosemary and prostrate.
This type of grass is the most common. Erect bushes, reaching a height of 1.5-2 meters, with dense narrow leaves are found in gardens, in pots on window sills. Common rosemary, or medicinal rosemary, is grown for consumption as a spice. Its leaves and shoots are valuable as they are used in folk remedies to treat diseases. And the essential oil extracted from parts of the plant perfectly tones, helping to prolong youth and recover from illness.
The medicinal herb is used as a decoration for summer cottages and gardens. The bushes are covered in spring with panicles of blue, purple, pink and white inflorescences. The specific aroma of plants attracts beneficial insects.
You can find a spreading shrub with a spherical crown in the southern regions. Shoots no more than 70 centimeters in length grow so much that they extend 1.5-2 meters. The needle-thin leaves of this species have the peculiarity of changing color from light green in the spring to a bluish tint in the fall.
Due to its ability to grow, shrubs are used to create hedges or designate areas on the territory of a country house.
Breeders have developed new varieties of rosemary perennials that decorate gardens and homes. Outwardly, you cannot immediately distinguish one variety from another, but they still differ in the area of the leaf plate, its color, shape and shades of colors. Rosemary officinalis represents the most varieties.
The evergreen perennial Corsican Blue has a powerful root system that penetrates 3-4 meters deep. The opposite leaves are gray-green in color. Small blue flowers are collected in dense panicles. The variety begins to bloom in late April - early May and continues for 20 days.
This plant variety is used for medicinal purposes. It is planted in flower beds and borders. A shrub is suitable for securing the slopes of a reservoir. It is preferable to plant the plant on sandy, gravelly soils. The perennial is afraid of areas with acidic and marshy soil.
This variety of decorative shrub is valued for its blue-green needle-like leaves. The plant is winter-hardy, withstanding frosts down to minus 17 degrees. Rosemary is actively used for fragrant gardens, where lemon balm, chamomile, and mint grow along with the spice. You can use gray-green shoots with purple flowers in the form of single compositions on the lawn. The perennial serves as a background for rose bushes and peonies.
Back in the 19th century, workers at the Nikitsky Garden on the Crimean Peninsula began cultivating rosemary. The subshrub begins to bloom in February. At this time, leaves and shoot tips are harvested. The plant, about 1 meter high, is covered with leathery leaves in the form of gray-green needles. They exude an incomparable aroma that combines the smells of the sea, freshness, and lavender.
In Crimea you can find rosemary bushes on rocky slopes, in the design of ridges and borders. For medicinal purposes, rosemary plantations are located in sunny places on the peninsula.
The variety is afraid of even a slight drop in temperature, so it is better to bring the fragrant bushes indoors for the winter.
The decorative flowering perennial has thin leaf needles up to 3-4 centimeters long. By autumn, the green color of the leaves transforms into gray-blue. The plant variety produces clusters of blue, delicate flowers in April.
Shoots grow successfully in the garden, but in regions with cold winters, the conditions of an apartment or house are suitable for them. The herbaceous plant loves sunny places with good ventilation of fresh air.
To grow crops in containers, choose ceramic flowerpots filled with nutritious soil mixture. The acidity of the soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline.
The perennial variety belongs to the medicinal species of the spicy plant. Reaches technical maturity 63-65 days after emergence. The shoots of the plant are densely covered with foliage, the height of the stems reaches no more than 40 centimeters. Leaves with a high content of essential oils are dark green in color and linear-lanceolate in shape.
The variety is suitable for growing in pots. The total weight of green mass reaches 50 grams per bush.
A rare plant species with white inflorescences. During the growing season, a flowering subshrub with a height of 0.5 to 1 meter can become a real decoration of the garden. The beauty of the perennial and its snow-white inflorescences is enhanced by the bright green of its needle-like leaves. The variety belongs to medicinal rosemary. Its leaves and shoots are infused and used to increase vitality and strength.
The prostrate form of the flowering shrub is represented by the Ampelous perennial. When grown in containers, the shoots of the plant curl, hanging fancifully along the wall of the pot. You can use a waterfall of twisting branches covered with long, narrow green leaves to create a “living” wall. Will decorate the ampelous appearance of rosemary and rocky gardens.
Since the variety does not tolerate even light frosts, it is better to grow it indoors.
The densely leafy shoots of evergreen shrubs will become a true decoration of the garden and home. The perennial subshrub will always retain the freshness of its leaves, glossy, with curled edges. Honey-bearing inflorescences on erect shoots appear in March, and again in September. Small flowers are located in the axils of the upper leaves and have a color range from light blue to purple.
In the article we discuss rosemary and its medicinal properties. You will learn what the plant looks like and how it is used in cooking and cosmetology. We will talk about ways to grow the spice at home and list contraindications to the use of products based on it.
Common or medicinal rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub of the Lamiaceae family. Latin name: Rosmarinus officinalis. Other names: sea dew, wedding flower, incense herb.
Appearance (photo) of rosemary
Rosemary has tall, hairy, tetrahedral stems. The grass reaches a height of 2 meters.
Evergreen elongated leaves are located on short petioles. The ends of the leaf plates are blunt, the edges are slightly curved. Small blue flowers are located at the ends of the shoots. The plant blooms in April - May.
The fruit is a round, smooth brown nut. The plant bears fruit in September.
In the wild, the grass is found in Europe, North Africa, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus. It is cultivated in Crimea as a cultivated plant.
Dry slopes are suitable for rosemary. The plant is often found in the mountains.
The spice has a strong camphor aroma with a fresh pine note. It has the peculiarity that it does not lose its aroma for a long time even during heat treatment. The taste of the spice is slightly spicy.
Instead of rosemary, use bay leaf, oregano or sage. Do not add these spices to the same dish: they have a strong aroma and drown out each other's taste.
Rosemary has a rich composition that is saturated with biologically active substances. In dried and fresh form, the raw material contains a complex of vitamins and minerals, essential fatty acids, phytosterols and flavonoids.
Due to its rich composition, the product is widely used for diseases. The spice tones the nervous and circulatory systems. Products based on it are used to restore strength and increase blood pressure.
The spice stimulates the gastrointestinal tract. It is often used in the treatment of colitis and gastritis.
Plant-based products have an analgesic effect. They are effective for rheumatism and gout.
This useful spice is used in folk medicine, cooking and cosmetology.. The herb is also used for weight loss, for which tea is prepared with rosemary, which accelerates the process of burning fat and normalizes metabolic processes in the body.
Tinctures and decoctions are made based on the spice. Oil and extract are obtained from it, which are used in cosmetology.
Let's take a closer look at where rosemary is added.
Fresh and dried leaves are used as a spice. The seasoning is suitable for meat and fish dishes. The essential oils contained in the herb give a noble taste to pork and lamb. Wrap fried meat in the branches of the plant: the spice will absorb carcinogens and make the dish healthier. Raw materials are often added to soups, vegetable salads and sauces.
Rosemary is used as an independent seasoning or combined with other herbs. The spice is combined with thyme, basil, marjoram and savory.
Since rosemary contains beneficial substances, it is often used in folk medicine to treat diseases and strengthen the body:
A good remedy for strengthening the immune system is rosemary tea. It strengthens memory, treats insomnia, prolongs beauty and youth.
Ingredients:
How to cook: Mix black tea and herbs and place in a container. Pour boiling water over and leave for 10-5 minutes.
How to use: Drink 1-2 cups of infusion per day.
Result: Improves well-being, accelerates recovery.
Rosemary essential oil is used in cosmetology
The product has a beneficial effect on skin and hair, so it is often added to cosmetic products. The plant tones, cleanses the skin, has a lifting effect and reduces pigmentation.
Masks based on leaves and stems strengthen hair and promote its growth. With regular use, the strands become more manageable and silky.
Tonic deeply cleanses pores. The product is gentle on the skin and suitable for daily use. Thanks to its antibacterial effect, the tonic is effective for problem skin.
Ingredients:
How to cook: Pour boiling water over the raw material, cover with a lid and let it brew for 2-3 hours. Strain the finished product. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How to use: Apply a little tonic to a cotton pad and massage your face along the massage lines. Carry out the procedure in the morning and evening.
Result: Tonic tightens pores, eliminates blackheads and pimples.
For hair growth, use a mask with spice essential oil. The product strengthens hair follicles and prevents baldness. The mask improves blood circulation in the scalp, stimulating hair growth. Thanks to its antibacterial and nutritional properties, the product effectively combats dandruff.
Ingredients:
How to cook: Heat castor oil in a water bath to a temperature of 36 degrees and combine with burdock. Remove from heat, add rosemary essential oil and stir.
How to use: Apply the product to clean scalp. Rub the oils in with massage movements for 5-7 minutes. Wrap your head in a towel and keep the mask on for 40 minutes. Rinse your hair twice with shampoo.
Result: The mask stimulates hair growth, strengthens it and gives a healthy shine.
You will learn more about rosemary in this video:
Contraindications for use:
Growing heat-loving grass in open ground is possible only in the southern regions. In temperate climates, the spice is cultivated as a houseplant and kept on the windowsill.
Most often, grass is grown from cuttings: the seeds have low germination. In the spring, they begin preparing the cuttings for planting. They are placed in a glass of water for 2-3 weeks until the roots grow. Next, the plant is planted in a wide pot and the top is pinched so that it bushes better.
Planting and care do not require special skills. It is enough to provide the plant with moderate humidity and lighting. The soil should be loosened periodically to saturate it with oxygen.
Rosemary is unpretentious to soil. The only thing that the plant cannot tolerate is temperatures below -10 degrees. The room in which the grass grows must be periodically ventilated to prevent the formation of fungus.
The plant should be watered no more than 2-3 times a week. Rosemary can tolerate drought more easily than waterlogged soil.
Fresh raw materials can be found in specialized stores or ordered online. Dried herbs are sold in any store in the spice section.
The price of 1 kg of fresh product is on average 600 rubles. Dried spice costs about 150 rubles per 100 grams. The price depends on the manufacturer.
Do not take fresh product for future use: it quickly loses its beneficial properties. Pay attention to how to store the plant correctly: wrap the branches in a damp towel, wrap the top with plastic or cling film. Store the bundle in the refrigerator door and make sure that the towel does not dry out. With this storage method, the plant retains its taste properties for 3 weeks.
Rosemary is a widespread plant used in cooking (as a seasoning), medicine and cosmetology. The mountain slopes of the Mediterranean and North Africa are considered its homeland. Rosemary, its varieties and species (the same Corsiсan Blue rosemary) are evergreen shrubs; their height in the wild can reach two meters. It has received widespread cultivation in almost all countries of the world with moderately warm weather conditions.
Flowering time (depending on the variety) is from March to autumn, and the flowers themselves are bluish or lilac. Loves sunshine and warm weather. Actually, the Latin Rosmarinus is translated as “sea dew,” but a free translation has taken root among the people - “freshness (or tenderness) of the sea.”
Interesting: it is known that in ancient times, among the Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, rosemary branches and flowers were a symbol of memory, their images were applied to tombstones, graves were decorated with wreaths, and the aroma was used during funeral services. At the same time, it was dedicated to the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite, and in the Middle Ages it was popular to give it as a gift for weddings. Since ancient times, it has been believed that this shrub has magical powers.
The rosemary plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family, the bushes are oblong, consisting of needle-like leaves on a branch. It has a strong refreshing aroma and taste, somewhat similar to pine, with an admixture of eucalyptus and mint. The shoots and seeds of the herb are similar in appearance to the seeds of thyme or oregano. By the way, all types of rosemary are excellent honey plants.
The distinct smell and taste of the shrub is given by essential oils, which are found in abundance in the leaves, shoots, and even in the flowers themselves. Surely many cosmetologists have heard about the beneficial properties of rosemary oil. In addition, the leaves of the bush contain rosmarinic and ursolic acids, alkaloids and tannins, antioxidants, and contain phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, even sodium and iron.
Vitamins include carotene (A), ascorbic acid, vitamin B. The essential oil itself is rich in alpha-pinene and camphene, contains L-camphor, borneol (all these elements are used in the production of camphor) and other useful substances.
The beneficial properties of rosemary include:
The spicy plant is divided into types and varieties. Let's consider its types.
Rosemary officinalis (or ordinary) is the most famous and widespread type of these plants, one might say - the progenitor of all rosemary. Known for its healing properties for many centuries. Even in Ancient Egypt, its infusions were used as a wound healing and pain reliever.
This cultivated plant is distinguished by powerful roots and dark gray woody shoots. The leaves are up to 3.5 cm long, leathery. During flowering, dense inflorescences appear, ranging from very light colors to dark purple shades. It is this species that is most widespread in cooking and medicine.
The medicinal species is grown in open areas in southern Europe, North Africa, along the entire Mediterranean coast, and has taken root well in Crimea and some southern regions of Russia.
As a house or greenhouse plant, it has become widespread in more northern latitudes, but it requires careful care and a lot of solar heat.
It is distributed throughout the soil as it grows in such a way that it looks like a ball of bushes. Actually, this is how it got its name. It is also called garden rosemary, as it is loved by gardeners as an ornamental plant. Dense thickets of prostrate rosemary also make good “living fences.”
The height of the bushes is much lower than their “wild” counterparts - up to a maximum of 70 centimeters. It blooms with blue, violet, lilac flowers, which very brightly decorates a flowerbed or vegetable garden. It has a rich taste and smell and can be used as a seasoning for dishes. The only drawback is that it does not take root well in cold climates; it is better to cover it for the winter or even replant it and grow it in greenhouses.
Types of rosemary are divided into several varieties. All of them, of course, have similar characteristics, aroma and taste of rosemary plants, differ in the methods and places of cultivation and care features, and the outline of the crown. They can bloom in a variety of colors - from white and pinkish shades to dark blue and violet, lilac.
Each of the rosemary varieties is interesting in its own way; you can choose the one most suitable for your own cultivation and natural conditions.
In Russia, Tenderness, Lavender, Rosinka, Veshnyakovsky Semko, Crimean, Ampelny, Biryusa are popular. Foreign varieties include Severn Sea, Hill’s Hardy, Barbecue, Majorka Pink, blue winter, corsican blue, Salem and many others.
This variety is mainly used for medicinal purposes. But it is also well suited for fastening slopes, decorating lawns and borders. Dried leaves will become a favorite seasoning for many dishes. Loves sandy soil, with the addition of crushed stone, does not tolerate acidic swampy soil. The leaves of this variety are grayish-green, the inflorescences are blue, and the aroma is bright and fragrant.
Corsican Blue is propagated by seeds, layering, and cuttings. In areas with a frosty climate, it is better to transplant it into tubs for the winter and store it indoors until spring.
A variety that is very loved by landscape designers. The name itself suggests that this shrub is adapted to frosty climates (up to -17 degrees). These blue-green shrubs with purple flowers make a good addition to beds with other plants or as a backdrop for large flowers. They spread a spicy aroma around themselves, due to which they form so-called fragrant lawns, among which it is pleasant to spend time, inhaling the unique smell of camphor and pine needles.
Rosemary took root on the Crimean peninsula at the beginning of the 19th century. The employees of the famous Nikitsky Garden were the first in Russia to set in motion the triumphal procession of the plant along the slopes of the Crimean hills. To use the medicinal properties of the bush, special plantations have even been established on the island. It is known that from Crimea rosemary spread to Transcaucasia and Central Asia.
Perhaps one of the most popular perennial varieties in our country. Like its relatives, it prefers a warm climate and bright sun. Seeds are initially planted as seedlings (February-March), and only then the shoots are transferred to the ground. If winters are not frosty, then you can start planting sprouts in the fall. The bushes reach a maximum height of 1 meter.
This low-growing shrub (branches up to 40 cm) is suitable for growing at home in pots or boxes. Many housewives fell in love with spicy herbs, which can be used in cooking at any time of the year. The main thing is to keep the plant in a well-lit place with sunlight.
Shrub with white flowers (rare species). In general, there is a variety of apples - white rosemary, no need to be confused. Otherwise, white rosemary is as fragrant and aromatic as other types. Can be used for medicinal, culinary, and decorative purposes.
Refers to the perennial prostrate species of rosemary. The grown shrub consists of twisted shoots hanging down. Looks unusually beautiful as a decorative decoration for walls or rocky slopes. Ornate fluffy branches covered with bright flowers create a wonderful ambiance. The very name ampelous crops implies the decoration of gardens, plots, and houses. Heat-loving and requires care.
Drought-resistant, light-sensitive, but does not like frost. Grow from seeds for seedlings (March-April). Can produce double flowering (spring and autumn). Purple and blue flowers are attractive to bees, and the plant is considered a honey plant.
What is the best way to use fragrant seasoning and what foods does it go best with? What dishes will rosemary add the best flavor and bring out its own uniqueness?
It is generally impossible to imagine Italian cuisine without the use of rosemary. Therefore, cheeses, pizzas, lasagna and pasta cannot do without this aromatic herb.
It must be remembered that rosemary contains essential oils, which in large quantities can add bitterness to the dish. Therefore, this spice should be used carefully, in small doses; to start culinary experiments, it is better to take dried herbs.
The spice rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is the leaves (fresh and dry) of semi-shrub evergreen plants of the Lamiaceae family, translated from Greek as “sea dew”. The spice has a strong aroma with pine and camphor notes, the taste of rosemary is slightly pungent.
Use of rosemary spice in cooking
Fragrant fresh or dry rosemary leaves are used as a spice. This is a strong spice that can overpower others, so it should be used in small quantities. Rosemary does not lose its properties when cooked; this spice can be added at the very beginning of cooking.
Rosemary is good for marinating and soaking game, pork, lamb, and rabbit meat - it helps rid the meat of unpleasant odors and adds a rosemary smell and notes of taste.
Rosemary is also used in sauerkraut, pickling vegetables and mushrooms, and in canning.
Rosemary can also be used to flavor the smoke of a fire or coals used to cook a barbecue. The bird can be wrapped in rosemary sprigs before roasting or grilling.
In general, rosemary is perfect for any meat dishes - fried, grilled, baked, stewed, boiled meat, minced meat, goulash. Moreover, the spice rosemary is believed to fight carcinogens formed during high-temperature processing of foods.
Rosemary with cheese is especially good. Mushroom dishes with rosemary are a win-win option. You can add a little rosemary to egg dishes.
A wide variety of vegetables (tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, spinach, peas, beans, cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes...) in combination with rosemary show their best qualities in soups, salads, stews...
A little rosemary is added to wine punch, some grog and liqueur recipes, and tea.
The rosemary spice is suitable for first and second courses, salads, snacks, drinks, baked goods and even jelly.
Italians use rosemary in pizza and pastas. Italians traditionally cook lamb with rosemary.
Rosemary is wonderful in sauces. If you add rosemary leaves to a bottle of vinegar, the spice will give it fresh shades and an original flavor.
Rosemary goes well with other spices and is part of bouquet garni, Italian herbs, and Herbs of Provence mixtures. You can replace bay leaf with rosemary, but combining these spices is not recommended.
Medicinal uses of rosemary spice
Rosemary leaves contain a large amount of essential oils (cineole, camphor, borneol, limonene, pinene, camphene, bornyl acetate), tannins, resins, bitterness, etc.
Rosemary, thanks to camphor, has an antiseptic and pain-relieving effect, stimulates nervous activity, blood circulation, respiration, and digestion. Used in dentistry. Indicated for epileptics. Rosemary tones, restores and strengthens the body. Rosemary improves the cardiovascular system. Helps with loss of strength and sexual weakness.
Rosemary improves memory and mental activity in general.
Recently, the antioxidant effect of rosemary has been proven - it prevents aging, helps remove toxins, acts as a diuretic and choleretic agent.
When used externally, rosemary oil and decoctions strengthen hair and cleanse the skin.
Wine infused with rosemary dilates blood vessels, tones, improves well-being, and helps to wake up.
Rosemary increases blood pressure and strengthens the work of the heart muscle.
Rosemary stimulates the appetite, improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, and prevents flatulence. It also fights colds, sore throats, helps with asthma and headaches.
For gout, neuritis, and neuralgic pain, rub ointments and baths of rosemary infusions are used.
In general, it is believed that rosemary improves mood, relieves nervous tension, and helps to relax.
The famous elixir of youth of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary (at the age of 72 she captivated the Polish king with her beauty and youth, who proposed marriage to her), known as “Hungarian water” contains rosemary essential oil.
Hypertensive patients and pregnant women should use rosemary very carefully.
Description of rosemary spice
Common rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a species of perennial semi-shrub evergreen strongly branched plants of the Lamiaceae family, reaching 2 m in height.
The homeland of rosemary is considered to be the Mediterranean, where it is still cultivated, as well as in Asia Minor, Crimea, the Caucasus, England, the USA (Florida), and Mexico.
The leaves of rosemary are dark green and shiny, and underneath are lighter and matte, needle-like with a pleasant aroma. If you rub a rosemary leaf between your fingers, you can feel its fresh, slightly piney scent. Blooming rosemary is completely covered with soft lilac (less often pinkish or white) flowers. The seeds are brown and small.
Rosemary has a pungent, bitter taste, with a pleasant resinous, camphorous smell.
Dried rosemary leaves are used as a spice. For spice, the most tender leaves are collected from the upper third of the branches, then they are dried in the shade - this is how they retain their aroma. Collection begins at the 3rd – 4th year of plant life. The finished spice is very fragile, having a convex upper surface and a curled lower surface. The spice must be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
Fresh rosemary leaves also produce essential rosemary oil (pinene, camphene, paracymene, cineole, limonene, camphor, borneol, terpineol, bornyl acetate, caryophyllene, isoalantolactone).
In addition to essential oil, rosemary contains low-toxic alkaloids, ursolic and rosmarinic acids. Flavonoids, terpenoids, diterpene glycosides, quinones, terpene acids, carnazole, carnasidic acid and phenolcarboxylic acids have been isolated from rosemary raw materials. Relatively recently, a new compound, 7-methoxyrosmanol, was isolated, and betulin and cirsimaritin, previously isolated from other plants, were identified.
Rosemary is propagated mainly by cuttings, less often by layering and seeds.
History of the spice rosemary
Rosemary has been known to us since biblical times. The Mediterranean is considered the homeland of the spice. Since ancient times, rosemary has been used as a spicy and medicinal plant.
There are several versions of the origin of the name rosemary: Latin Rosmarinus - sea dew, sea freshness (Pliny wrote that rosemary flowers have such an attractive color due to the fact that sea foam, falling on the flowers, turns them blue); Greek rhoops - bush and meron - balm.
The ancient Greeks dedicated it to Aphrodite (the Romans - to Venus) and believed that a wonderful plant could make a person happy, relieve bad dreams, and preserve youth.
The ancient Greeks, following the Egyptians, in addition to medicinal and culinary uses, used rosemary instead of incense, and also made wreaths from it. Hippocrates prescribed rosemary for liver diseases. The Romans loved rosemary honey; it was considered a symbol of lovers and was used to decorate public places during ceremonies.
Apparently rosemary was spread throughout Europe by the Romans. In the Middle Ages, rosemary was considered a symbol of memory and fidelity - it’s not for nothing that Shakespeare’s Ophelia says: “Here is rosemary... This is for memory... Don’t forget, dear, don’t forget...” The famous botanist Nicholas Culpeper claimed that rosemary improves weakened memory, and the ancient German herbalists say: “Rosemary helps with brain weakness. Place the leaves in the wine, heat it and let the patient inhale its vapors..."
In the Middle Ages, rosemary was thrown into fires during plague epidemics to disinfect the air. Rosemary is found in many funeral coats of arms. Later, rosemary became a symbol not only of funerals, but also of weddings; peasants traditionally included sprigs of rosemary in the bride's bouquet (in the 18th century, rosemary was replaced with sprigs of myrtle), as a symbol of fidelity and long, happy love.
During the Renaissance, rosemary was included in many pharmaceutical medicines.
Europeans brought rosemary to the New World, where it is still loved and cultivated today.
Rosemary appeared in Rus' around the 16th century; there is a mention of it in Domostroy: “Rosemary oil is suitable for many medicines... The same oil helps stagnant veins in which the blood will freeze: apply that oil, and everything will go away. The same oil is applied to whiskey - it strengthens memory and gives a sharp mind...”
