by Brittany Russell |
Imagine a gypsy over 1,000 years ago, holding a bunch of vibrant green sticks in her hand, spreading them on a table to tell her client his fortune. It is thought that those sticks are what we now call chives. Though they will not tell your future, they do act as [...]

by Brittany Russell |
Due to the name, Passionflower has been thought to be an aphrodisiac but in fact, evokes the body and mind to relax. It may have nothing to do with passion, but it can be an herb to be passionate about. According to folklore, Spanish explorers and missionaries, who felt that the flower’s [...]

by Brittany Russell |
Winter has set in with cold temperatures, and it is important to keep our body temperatures up – from the inside, out. Spicy foods and seasonings can help boost blood circulation, keeping the body warm.
Incorporating wasabi is just one such food that will keep you toasty this cold winter season. The heat [...]

by Brittany Russell |
Fennel was once awarded to Pheidippides, the runner who delivered the news of the Persian invasion to Sparta in ancient Greece (4th century B.C.), as a symbol of courage, and has since been highly revered. We may no longer award military heroes with fennel, but it is still considered a versatile addition [...]

by Brittany Russell |
There is a tale in Greek mythology that says Gaea, the goddess of earth, turned the nymph Daphne into a bay laurel to protect her from Apollo. It was Apollo who made the plant sacred, a symbol of honor, celebration and triumph. In addition to this meaning, the bay leaf has also [...]

by Talia Henderson and Marie Harger |
Bad breath? Digestive problems? Eat parsley! Although we tend to think of parsley customarily as a decorative garnish on our plates, this leafy green cannot only freshen up that after-meal breath, it has many healing aspects that help stimulate normal activity of the digestive system.
The most popular use for [...]

by Talia Henderson |
This flowering, perennial, evergreen shrub is not just another herb from the kitchen spice rack. Rosemary has been used for a number of ailments such as curing joint paralysis and is believed by some to possess powers of protection against evil spirits.
The botanical name, Rosmarinus is derived from old Latin for “dew [...]

by Lauren Lander |
Saffron is a golden, aromatic spice obtained from the delicate red stigma of the Crocus sativus flower. Roughly 80,000 flowers must be harvested from this perennial to yield merely one pound of saffron. As a result, saffron fetches a lofty price of up to $2,000 per pound.
Although long valued for its exotic [...]

Written by Brittany Russell
Added to nearly every savory, maybe some sweet, recipe one can think of, salt and pepper is the standard pair found on any dining table. Seemingly better suited for one another than Barbie and Ken, the two spices met during the 17th century and have been together since.
Sea Salt
It all began with [...]

Written by Brittany Russell
An aromatic spice with a distinctive bitter flavor and strong, warm aroma due to its abundant oil content, cumin is the small dried fruit of an annual plant in the parsley family. Superstition during the Middle Ages cited that cumin kept chickens and lovers from wandering. It was also believed that a [...]

Written by Brittany Russell
When the day seems longer than usual and you cannot get to sleep, try a cup of chamomile herbal tea. In addition to its calming properties that help ease anxiety and insomnia, chamomile has a long history in serving as a digestive ailment, anti-inflammatory and easing spasm and discomfort in the digestive [...]

Written by Brittany Russell
Don’t let the name deceive you – Winter Savory is a perennial flowering plant, available during all seasons, but native to warm temperate regions of southern Europe. In legends, both winter and summer savory belonged to the satyrs, mythological half-man, half-goat. The satyrs lived in meadows of savory, possibly attaining their strong [...]