Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a tall, perennial herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae). It’s thought to be come from southern Europe, the sunny mountain slopes of the Mediterranean and southwestern Asia. For centuries it was used therapeutically, primarily for digestive relief, and later became a prominent culinary herb that’s especially well known in European kitchens….
Category: All About
All About: Mint
Mint is a colloquial term used to describe a diverse group of highly fragrant plants. Did you know the term “mint” technically refers an entire plant family (Lamiaceae) that contains over 200 genera and approximately 7000 species? There are tons of mints and a lot of herbs fall into this family. In this post, however,…
All About: Parsley
Parsley is a biennial herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae). It’s been cultivated for over 2000 years, first as a medicinal and later as a culinary herb. There are three distinct species of cultivated parsley: curled parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Italian or flat leaf parsley (P. neapolitanum) and root parsley (P. tuberosum). Here on Smoot’s Flavor…
All About: Dill
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a cold season herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae). It prefers moist conditions and cooler temperatures to produce its light, feathery leaves. But come summer it will shoot up firework umbels of bright yellow flowers and produce lots of seeds–or more accurately, dried fruits called schizocarps. It’s thought to be native…
All About: Chives
One might call chives a timid cousin of the Alium clan (garlic, leeks, shallots) because of their milder onion or garlic flavor. But chives are a versatile, reliable herb that accompany just about any savory dish. There are two types of chives that we grow on Smoot’s Flavor Farm, garden chives (Alium schoenprasum) and garlic…