Rosemary flower candies (Rosemarinus officinalis)

Leave your tic-tacs at home. This medicinal plant provides delicious mouth fresheners to integrate into a balanced healing diet.

When a herb or plant has the designation 'officinalis' it means it has been recognised to have medicinal qualities. 'Rosemarinus', so called because of marine connections (colour of sea - grows by sea e.g. Mediterranean) is possibly the best example of a herb that we commonly grow that has extensive folklore and many attributed medicinal values.

Beloved by the Romans, who bought it to the UK from Turkey, they believed this valuable herb could preserve dead bodies from corruption and it was often strewn or grown in graveyards and around tombs. It was well known to the Tudors as a stimulant to the system. In 'The Garden of Health' (1579) William Langham writes: "Carry the flowers about thee to make thee merry and glad and well beloved of all men...hang the flowers on thy bed and place Rosemary in the bath to make thee lusty, lively, joyful, strong and young. To comfort the heart steep Rosemary flowers in rose water and drink it".

Gerard agrees in his 1636 Herbal. "The flowers of Rosemary, made up into lozenges with sugar and eaten make the heart merry, quicken the spirits and make them more lively". He also notes that Rosemary water acts as a breath freshener.

Rosemary has long been recognised as a valuable heart and liver tonic and its use can help to reduce high blood pressure. It has been used in the treatment of nervous complaints, digestive disorders and menstrual pains.

Rosemary is a symbol of constancy in love because it remains fresh and fragrant when cut, longer most other evergreens. For this reason it was often used for solemn occasions such as weddings or funerals - 'Be it for my bridal or my burial'. As in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Rosemary is for remembrance and in the language of flowers the gift of Rosemary means 'Never will your memory fade'. Ancient myth has it that 'Where Rosemary flourishes - the woman rules'. Rosemary is sometimes used in psychic work as an aid to concentration, memory and mental steadiness. Under the pillow or over the bed its delicious aroma is said to prevent nightmares.

One word of warning though - excessive use of Rosemary taken internally can cause fatal poisoning, but that is no reason to not sample the delicious and invigorating herbal tea or eat a few of the flowers.

Like the raw flowers, Rosemary sugar candies are a tiny taste explosion and quite delicious. Preserving them in sugar helps to extend the amount of time you can experience this uplifting Epicurean event. First of all find a plant with flowers. It often flowers twice a year so this should not be too difficult. You can either pick the whole flower from the plant, or set up some arrangement that catches them as they fall naturally.

In a warm place, such as a sunlit window sill above a radiator, drop the flowers onto dried (even warmed) white sugar. Make sure the receptacle is open enough that moisture can evaporate from the flowers into the sugar and then into the atmosphere. Also make sure that no moisture gets to this mixture at any point as the sugar will 'clump' and the flowers will start to rot, spoiling the taste. Shake the mixture now and then to aid the process.

When thoroughly dry, seal the sugar/flower mixture into a moisture-proof receptacle and every now and then - treat yourself !

With thanks to: J. Lust, M. Woodward, D. Conway, C.L. Zalewski, R. Genders.

From an ebook called 'Wild Food' underway at simonthescribe. If you wish to republish this article (with this resource box intact) you will find excellent quality pictures to accompany it at http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/rosemary.html

---

Banana Pudding and Vanilla Wafers... the Perfect Crowd Pleaser!

Next time someone signs you up for "dessert duty" at the family barbecue, cookout, picnic or whatever other type of party you may attend this summer, consider... Read More

Braised Fish in Soy Sauce (Hong Shao Yu)

Braised fish in soy sauce is the basic craft of Chinese dish. The distinguishing characteristics are it looks red and glossy, rich in smell and thick in... Read More

Vegetarian Diet Tips: Make Your Vegetarian Diet A Balanced Diet!

The world has opened eyes to the harmful side-effects of non-veg food like red meat and is now opening arms to Vegetarian Food. A very common myth... Read More

Spanish Food - How To Prepare Boquerones

Whilst on your travels in Spain and pausing to take a breath from site-seeing, you have surely experimented with "tapas" at a welcoming bar.If this is the... Read More

Pasta Recipes ? The Very Best In Italian Cuisine!

These pasta recipes are excellent for dinners or parties.In this article, I'm going to share with you three delicious pasta recipes that you can prepare for any... Read More

Fish Recipes

These recipes are wonderful and they are old family recpies. Armenian Baked Fish3 lbs. whitefish-in the white fleshed bland fish may be substituted 3 fresh tomatoes or... Read More

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipes

What makes great homemade BBQ sauce recipes? Well, it could be the time and love that you put into making this delectable barbeque sauce for your family... Read More

Going Halfway Around the World: How to Make German Cookies

I absolutely loved experimenting with foreign recipes, especially dessert recipes, when I was in high school. One of my favorite ones to make is German Cookies. I... Read More

Easy Trail Mixes

Before you set off on your next family walk or outing, try making one of these super easy trail mixes to keep your energy up.* Quick Fix... Read More

Sauted Family Bean Curd

Family bean curd is Sichuan's famous characteristic dish. Its main ingredient is bean curd.Bean curd began in Xi (West) Han Dynasty, became widely spread in Bei (North)... Read More

Handy Home-Prepared Mixes

Pre-packaged store-bought box mixes are expensive. Have you considered homemade alternatives? Made-from-scratch mixes are healthy, cost beneficial, store well, and taste great. Often times, you're paying for... Read More

A Victory Garden

In the early nineteen forties,women shopped with ration stamps that limited the amount of groceries they bought in order to support the war effort. To supplement the... Read More

The Perfect First Date Meal For The Culinary Illiterate

The Microwave Generation of the 1990's has now finished school and stands ready to step forward into the competitive marketplace. It goes without saying that the workplace... Read More

How to Bake: Easy Sourdough Bread

A customer emailed us and said that her mother loved sourdough bread but had trouble making it work right. We shared the following recipe with her, which... Read More

Easy Gourmet Recipes You and I can do!

So, you don't think you can find easy gourmet recipes? Yes, you can! While most people think that gourmet recipes are hard to make, time consuming, or... Read More

Low Fat Flaming Bananas Treat

Nutritional Information: Serves 3, Fat: 8 g, Cal: 299, KJ: 1256, WW: 5 PointsThis is yet another one of my favourite low fat banana recipes. You can... Read More

Apples of Love

If the Spanish conquistadors had known what they were onto when they brought tomatoes to the old world in the sixteenth century, they wouldn't have spent the... Read More

Use Up Those Leftovers!

Managing leftovers is a challenge we all face! Throwing food away is just like throwing money away. With a little time,organization and using a little ingenuity, leftovers... Read More

Superb Melt In Your Mouth Rolls

SERVING SIZE,one roll (of 18). CARBS PER SERVING,: 2.8 grams of carb. SERVING SIZE,one roll (of 16). CARBS PER SERVING,: 3.1 grams of carb. SERVING... Read More

Cool Snacks for a Hot Summer

Beat the heat with these cool summer treats!Mouse PopsiclesIt's not what you're thinking! The name refers to the size of the popsicle-not the contents. Wash a bowl... Read More

Italian Recipes ? Top 3 Dinner Recipes That You Should Prepare Tonight!

If you are wondering what to prepare for dinner tonight, then you can always try these easy recipes. It's quick and affordable.MenuMeal: Chicken SpaghettiSalad: Spinach SaladDessert: Lemon... Read More

How I Made Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies In Simple, Super Easy Steps

I was sitting there watching one of my favorite tv shows when a cookie craving hit me. As I watched one of the main characters take her... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Oven Fried Chicken

Enjoy the sensation of fried chicken without the extra calories of deep frying. This recipe is sensational either hot or cold and is great for taking to... Read More

Easy, Tasty Chicken Wing Recipes

You can serve chicken wings hot or cold, for a meal, or for snacks. They're great as appetizers at parties, or when you're just looking for a... Read More

Crockpot Cooking - Advantages and Disadvantages

In my 'un-biased' opinion, the crockpot / slow cooker is one of the most convenient and easy to use appliances in my kitchen. The time savings features... Read More

Limes

Limes were originally grown in Asia,introduced by the Arab traders to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa and then brought to Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese... Read More