Fact Sheet-15-04 Selected Culinary Herbs Harvesting, Preservation and Usage Carol Bishop, Extension Educator and Denise Stoesser, Horticulturist Culinary herbs are the aromatic, fresh, Caraway (Carum carvi) is a biennial plant dried or processed leaves and flowers of with feathery foliage and creamy white herbaceous plants that enhance the flavor flowers. It is grown for its hard, brown, and fragrance of food. There are literally savory seeds. Caraway is widely used in hundreds of plants that can be grown for Scandinavian, German, Russian and Indian this purpose, and there are no steadfast cuisines. Caraway seeds are used whole in rules that must be applied when cooking rye breads, sauerkraut, cheeses, potato with herbs. Both plate and palate can be salads, meats and stews. diversified with the subtle culinary flavorings and delicious teas that are made from Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is an annual herbs. plant that resembles a fine leaved parsley/fennel combination. It has a light Selected Herbs licorice flavor with a mild taste of pepper. Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is an annual Chervil is used particularly in French plant grown for its small, oval, greenish- cooking and gives a delightful flavor to brown seeds with licorice-like flavor. Anise salads, salad dressings and meats. is a potent spice common in Asian and Indian cuisine. Its seeds are used to flavor Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are an cookies, candies, pickles, breads and rolls. attractive, perennial border plant similar to green onions with narrow leaves and edible Basil, sweet (Ocimum basilicum) is an lavender flower heads. Chives are used annual plant with dark green leaves that whenever a light oniony flavor is desired in have a sweet flavor with mild pungency. salads, dips, sauces, vegetables, soups and Basil is used liberally in Italian and Greek fish. food. Basil leaves are excellent with tomatoes, cheese, meats, soups and green Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an salads. annual plant with delicate, lacy foliage and pinkish-white flowers. The name coriander Bay (Laurus nobilis) is a perennial plant that is used to refer to the plant and also its is used as a hedge in the landscape. small orange-flavored seeds; the name The leaf of this evergreen shrub is cilantro is used when refering to the leaves aromatic, with a sweetish odor and pungent of the plant. Coriander is used in French taste. Bay is a classic ingredient in the dressing and Scandinavian cooking. French bouquet and is one of the most Cilantro is delicious in Vietnamese spring common herbs in North Indian cooking. rolls, Thai curries and Mexican foods such as guacamole and salsas . A partnership of Nevada counties; University of Nevada, Reno; and U.S. Department of Agriculture Dill (Anethum graveolens) is an annual Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is an plant with feathery foliage and large flower annual plant that looks lovely in the umbels. Dill is often used in German, landscape as a border plant. It has finely Russian, English and Scandinavian dishes. curled aromatic leaves that are rich in Dill seeds have a slightly bitter taste and vitamins A and C. Parsley is widely used in are used in soups, pickles, cheese dishes, Middle Eastern, European, Asian and breads, sauces, meats and fish. Dill weed American cooking. Parsley is used as a has a delicate bouquet and is used to flavor flavoring or garnish for soups, salads, eggs, fish sauces, salads, dips, potatoes and meat and poultry dishes, creamed meats. vegetables and hot breads. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is an annual Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a plant with bright green feathery foliage and small, perennial, pine-like bush with pale yellow flowers. The plant produces blue flowers, belonging to the mint family. yellowish-brown seeds with a sharp, sweet The leaves have a spicy odor and a warm, licorice-like flavor. Fennel is one of the most piny taste. Rosemary is used in vegetable important spices in Kashmiri Pandit and and meat dishes, cream soups, sauces and Gujarati Indian cooking and is an essential jellies. Rosemary makes a delicious tea. ingredient in Chinese five-spice powders. The leaves are used as garnish or flavoring Sage (Salvia spp.) is a perennial shrub with in sauces and salads. The seeds are grey leaves that has a strong, bitter flavor. commonly used to flavor sausages, breads, Sage appears in many European cuisines, salads, salad dressings, soups and sauces. notably Italian, Balkan and Middle Eastern cookery. Sage is used sparingly in stuffings, Marjoram, sweet (Origanum majorana) is a soups, stews, sausage and herb breads. small perennial bush with white flowers and gray-green leaves that have a slightly bitter Summer savory (Satureja spp.) is an undertone. It is widely used in annual, bushy plant with long narrow leaves Mediterranean, Greek, Egyptian, Polish, and weak woody stems. Its leaves are used Italian, German, English and French to season poultry, soups, gravies, stuffings, cuisine. Marjoram is used to season salads, bean dishes and sauces for fish or vegetables, lamb, sausage, eggs, poultry, veal. cheese dishes, potato salad and soups. Tarragon (Artemesia dracunculus) is a Mint (Mentha spp.) is a perennial plant with perennial plant with slender, dark green purple flowers that has a refreshing odor leaves that have a sweet anise scent. It is and flavor. Mint is widely used in the considered an essential ingredient in many Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, India French dishes. Tarragon’s flavor and Southeast Asia. Mints flavor combines complements eggs, poultry, fish, shellfish well with lamb, peas, fish sauces, candies, and many vegetables. Tarragon is also chocolate and vegetables. used as a flavoring in pickles and vinegar. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a perennial Thyme (Thymus spp.) in warmer climates but treated as annual Thyme is a small, perennial shrub with tiny where it cannot survive the winter. The brownish-green leaves. The leaves have flavor is similar to sweet marjoram, but unsurpassed aroma and flavor. Thyme is stronger and more sagelike. Oregano is good with roast meats, fish chowders, used liberally in Spanish, Mexican and sauces, soups, stews, stuffings and salads. Italian dishes and is a component of chili powder. Harvesting screened drying rack until they are Although most culinary herbs may be thoroughly dry. harvested at any stage during the growing season, it’s best to harvest herbs when Preservation their oil is at maximum and the flavor at its Bundle-dried herbs: (recommended for peak. For most leafy herbs the optimum long-stemmed, leafy herbs). Wash herb stage for picking is when the flower buds stems. Shake off excess water. Using are just starting to open. Mints are an household string, tie stem ends together exception. Their flavor peaks when in full forming small bundles. Label bunches for flower. The stage to harvest herb seed is easy identification after drying. Hang after they have changed color, from green bundles upside down in warm, well- to brown, but before they drop. Herb roots ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Sun are most flavorful when fully developed will fade color and dissipate oils. When toward the end of their growing season. If completely dry, unbundle and strip leaves growing the herb for its root’s flavor, wait from stems. Store dried leaves in an airtight until the flower is in full bloom before container. harvesting. Rack-dried herbs: (recommended for If possible, cut herbs on a dry, sunny short-stemmed and very large herbs and morning after the dew has dried, but before flowers). One way to dry herbs are on the sun becomes too hot. Dry, sunny days racks. If you don’t own a drying rack, an old will help maximize the essential oil content window screen works great; otherwise you of the plants. When cutting, it’s important to can make a drying rack. Spread herbs on use clean, sharp scissors or pruners and to drying racks. Elevate trays from ground with avoid ripping or tearing the plants. Clean bricks, blocks, 1-inch by 2-inch boards or cuts help the plant to repair quickly and set on a table. Select a warm area with prevent the spread of disease. Cut leafy good air circulation, out of direct sunlight. annual herbs back quite severely when Dry the herbs seven to 10 days, turning harvesting them. Cut just above a leaf or them over periodically so the leaves dry pair of leaves, leaving approximately 4 to 6 completely. Store dried leaves in an airtight inches of the stem for later growth. container. Conversely, use caution when harvesting perennial herbs to carefully prune so that Microwave-dried herbs: (This method will new growth will be produced and a compact not work well if the leaves are very big or habit of growth maintained. For perennial very small.) Wash herbs and pat dry. herbs, cut only about one-third of the top Remove leaves from stems. Place between growth at a time and, in some cases, only two paper towels. Microwave them on full the leafy tips. Never leave a large amount power for 20 seconds. Check the herbs. of naked stalk on the plant. It will only die The herbs will not change color, but the back and leave an unattractive stub. paper towel should get slightly damp from evaporating water. If the herbs are not dry If an herb is grown for its seed (such as and crisp, microwave again for 20 seconds. dill), do not cut it back and use the leaves. Depending on your microwave's strength, In this case, allow the plants to mature fully you will need to heat the herbs two or three and form their seeds, and then harvest times to dry them completely.