Sage
Sage (horticultural, medicinal, ordinary) (Salvia offincinalis) is a family of Labiatae, yasnotkovyh.
Names in other languages:
- English common sage,
- fr sauge,
- him Echter Salbei.
Appearance
The most common type is common sage (garden, medicinal). In height can reach up to 80 cm.
- The stem is erect, its shape varies from mild tetrahedral to rounded shape, it is distinguished by strong branching and hairiness of the upper part.
- Leaves are gray-green, with whitish fibers. They have an elongated shape from ovoid to lanceolate. The length can be up to 10 cm. The upper leaves are located on the petioles, and the upper leaves are without them.
- Flowers appear in early summer, their color is usually light purple. Flowering continues during the summer.
- Sage pollinated cross. Fruits - small dark and brown nuts about three millimeters, have four lobes. For seedlings, seeds are collected in August or September.
- Root with branching, woody and huge.
Kinds
Sage - a plant has many species, each of which has an individual aroma. Spicy vegetation is used to add spices to various dishes.
In the family of Labiaceae and Yasnotkovyh sage has more than 900 species. Its name comes from the Latin “salvare - help”, which indicates its use for health purposes by our ancestors. Garden sage is a spicy plant that originates in the Mediterranean region. There are many subspecies. In European countries, sage is a very popular plant.
Sage - is a perennial shrub, resistant to winter, so the leaves for spices are collected throughout the year. Different types are used for burners and tea.
In addition to the considered sage sage distinguish:
Meadow sage
(Salvia pratensis) the flavor is much nicer, used in the form of spices for dishes. The taste of young leaves is astringent and camphor-like, and the older leaves are bitter. For drying young shoots are cut to flowering.
Every day, tea must be brewed again and drink no more than one or two cups, so the content of thujone (essential oil) in large quantities makes the drink poisonous.
The plant tolerates heat, losing bitterness. Can be added to a variety of dishes. Basically, spices are put in fish and veal, various meat dishes.
Roasted leaves in butter are great as a garnish for tortelline and flat noodles.
Leaves that have been dried for a long time are also used, but in smaller quantities due to the smolish taste. So that they can be used in the future, the leaves are frozen, and paper is put between them to prevent a bitter taste.
Dalmatian sage
(Salvia officinalis ssp. Major) is great for spices, grows up to 1 meter tall. Because of the pleasant and delicate flavor used in cooking, but because of the high content of toxic agents used in small quantities.
Tricolor
(Salvia officinalis Tricolor) motley leaves are its distinguishing feature. Bitter taste is characteristic, grows to 0,4 meters. Seasoning is used for meat and fish.
Purple sage
(Salvia officinalis "Purpurancens") reaches half a meter, has a violet and purple leaf color, the oldest - green-gray and dark green leaves. This view is used in the same way as the garden, (sometimes as a garden decoration).
There are other types of sage.
For example, in Greece they prefer greek sage (Salvia triloba) - has a pleasant fresh aroma, but a bitter taste, therefore it is used extremely rarely for cooking.
Tuyon not in spanish sage (Salvia lavandulifolia), grows up to 0.6 m. Small leaves of a gray-greenish shade are used in various kinds of dishes without fear of the formation of harmful substances.
Spicy and very fragrant considered clary sage (Salvia sclarea) - a plant whose height reaches one meter. Feature - bloom in a purple shade. The leaves are baked and used for different sweets with tea, and also give the flavor of vermouth and wine.
Fruit flavors have two more varieties - fruit sage (Salvia dorisiana) and pineapple sage (Salvia rutilans). The first species lives in Honduras, the second - in Mexico. They are great for teas, sweets and cocktails.
Where grows
Predominantly the medicinal plant grows in the southern European states like Italy, France, Slovakia, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia (Krasnodar Territory) and Yugoslavia.
They plant it in their gardens for home use and on large plots of land for further industrial processing. Often lives in the most arid places, because the plant does not tolerate moisture.
A method of making spices
Thanks to its amazing taste and aroma, sage is a popular Italian spice. Used just blooming plants. The plant comes off not for each leaflet, but is cut off at a height of 10 centimeters by the stems. Then the leaves are dried and crushed (if necessary).
If you fry this look, the taste will change dramatically. They are added as a flavor to sandwiches, sandwiches and other fast foods.
Spices perfectly retain their flavor and aroma in a dry place.
Specifications
- Fragrant smell, persistent taste.
- The content of essential oils in large quantities.
- It has various chemical compounds and substances that positively affect human health.
- Used in the form of spices to enhance the taste, decoration or medicine.
Nutritional value and calorie
Per 100 grams of product accounts for:
Squirrels | Fat | Carbohydrates | Calorie content |
3.7 gr. | 0.4 gr. | 8.0 gr. | 49 kcal |
Chemical composition
The plant contains:
- Alkaloids.
- Oleanolic, formic and ursolic acids.
- Flavonoids.
- Tannins.
- Bitterness
- Resins
- Vitamins PP, C, P.
- 2.5% essential oil in the leaves, which includes:
- D-borneol.
- D-camphor.
- α- and β-thujone.
- D-α-pinene.
- Zineola.
The seeds of the plant contain:
- Up to 30% fatty oil, where 20% is protein, and the rest is glycerimidinolic acid.
Beneficial features
- Positive effect on the body.
- Used in inflammatory processes of the mouth, lungs, urogenital system, helps with cough, high temperature.
- It helps in the treatment of infertility.
- Allow to reduce the amount of sweating in people infected with tuberculosis.
- Improves memory.
- Carries out preventive actions for sore throat, stomatitis, gingivitis, eczema, vaginitis, vulvitis, hemorrhoids.
You can learn more about the benefits of sage from the TV show “Live Healthy”. Sage - "sacred grass" in the words of Hypocrates, it says a lot.
Contraindications
- The risk of miscarriage during pregnancy or the stimulation of preterm labor.
- The plant is contraindicated during lactation.
- Allergic reactions with external use.
- For some diseases of the kidneys: pyelonephritis, renal failure, nephritis (consult your doctor).
- It is forbidden to use in case of polycystic, endometriosis, uterus myoma and other diseases, forcing down the menstrual cycle.
- With neurological diseases.
- Reduces the function of the thyroid gland.
- In case of overdose - anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations, increased heart rate, seizures, and more.
The plant is not recommended to use more than three months. Break - 20 days.
Application
In cooking
- The plant is used in the form of spices to enhance the flavors of different dishes.
- Used in canning and alcoholic beverage production.
- In the form of flavoring tea, soft drinks, tobacco, cheese, as a seasoning for game (most popular in North America and Europe).
- Strengthening the aromatic smell and taste of meat (sage can increase the shelf life of a cooked dish).
- Use in first courses (soups).
- Accurate dosing (bitter taste with excess).
- Add to meat products, eggs and omelets.
- In some beers comes sage.
- It is added to a hot drink for health reasons.
- Use for sweet baking.
- It goes well with rosemary.
- Produced aromatic and delicious honey.
Sage Dishes
- Using this plant, the best dishes are obtained from the Italians. If there is a desire to create a sauce for pasta - use butter, which warms up with sage leaves.
- Saltimbokkoy called dishes, where sage leaves are attached with a toothpick to the chop.
- Chips are not left out - some cooks prefer to add sage.
- Basically, only greenish-gray leaves of a plant “shrouded” with a fuzz are used in cooking. They have a great aroma at the stage of drying and a pleasant bitter taste.
- Unlike other types of plants that are used actively in cooking, sage retains its taste even when cooked on fire. Therefore, it can be added at the very beginning of cooking. The main feature of the plant - a clear dosage of seasoning.
Make lemonade from sage for one portion.
To do this, we need ingredients:
- 5 gr. fresh sage
- Lime - 25 grams.
- Pear juice - 100 milliliters.
- Sparkling water - 50 milliliters.
- Chipped ice.
Cooking Instructions
We choose a large glass for lemonade, into which we cut 25 gr. lime Add 5 gr. sage
In order to convert the ice into small "fragments", we use kitchen automatic equipment (combine) with a good mechanism or cover with a towel and beat it several times with a hammer for the chops. Then pour some crushed ice into the glass.
We pour ice to the brim of the glass and gently pour 100 ml. pear juice: you can use both juice in packets and freshly squeezed. Add a little sugar (for fresh juice more) and mix thoroughly with a spoon (you can use both bar and regular). Add 50 ml. carbonated water.
The finished drink can be decorated with a slice of lemon or a leaf of the plant.
Pork stew with milk
- 2 kg. pork
- 50 ml. olive oil.
- 2 pcs. fresh rosemary.
- 2 leaf sage.
- 2 pcs. juniper berries.
- 4 bay leaves.
- 1 clove garlic.
- 1 tsp sea salt.
- 0.5 tbsp. dry white wine.
- 750 ml. milk
- 0.5 tsp molotovogo pepper.
Prepared for 3 hours and 15 minutes, for 8 servings.
Cooking Instructions
Cut 2 kg of boneless meat in half and rub with salt and ground pepper. In a pot of high strength pour 50 ml. olive oil and heat up.
At the moment of hissing, we throw two finely chopped juniper berries and a couple of plant twigs (sage and rosemary). After 1 min, add 1 clove of garlic and mix for 60 seconds.
When a golden crust forms, we place the meat in a container and fry it from different edges until the surface appears (about 10 minutes). 0.5 tbsp. White wine is poured into a container of pork, bringing to a boil.
We wait until half of the poured wine evaporates, and pour 750 ml. milk After boiling immediately turn off the stove. Move to the oven, where the temperature is 175 degrees.
Quenching is performed for two and a half hours, the meat is turned over periodically and checked for readiness. If we see that the meat has ceased to be solid, lay out on the kitchen table, close with foil.
The sauce, which was stewed with meat, can be used as a sauce. Pre-filter it through a fine sieve and pour it back into the container until a thick form is formed. The meat is cut into large slices, and served on the table along with the prepared sauce.
In medicine
The plant has the following medicinal properties:
- An effective natural remedy for inflammatory diseases of certain organs.
- Used for fluxing, gingivitis, sore throat, bleeding gums.
- Helps with coughing.
- It is a febrifuge.
- Restores the integrity of the skin in short periods of time.
- It is used in the form of lotions and compresses.
- Skin diseases, arthritis and purulent wounds.
- Used in the form of complex treatment of female infertility.
- It is useful for people to diabetics, contributes to the level of lowering blood sugar.
- The plant is useful for men, improves potency.
- A natural antibiotic that has an accelerated effect on recovery for some infections.
- The herb is a tonic, eliminates fatigue and strengthens the immune system.
- It forms the most elastic vessels, prevents the formation of atherosclerosis. Improves brain activity.
- Excellent tool to strengthen the hair roots, slows baldness and in some cases - stops.
- It is used in the bath for microbial eczema and in the form of douching for vulvitis and vaginitis.
Sage Tea
- Brewing tea with sage, you can get rid of sore throat.
- Sage strengthens the immune system. The composition includes antioxidants that remove free radicals from the body. Therefore, sage can be called an excellent prevention against heart disease or the formation of a malignant tumor.
- Consequences in the form of heat and restlessness are reduced due to a compress based on tea with sage. This tonic property, which allows to penetrate the skin, will reduce fever and its manifestation.
- It helps a lot during the menstrual cycle, especially with abdominal pain. Improves digestion in the stomach. Also, tea helps with the accumulation of gas in the stomach.
- Will remove from depression, improve memory. Scientifically proven that people who drink tea with sage, memory is much better.
- Sage is a soothing natural remedy, relaxes the brain. The man quickly copes with a stressful state.
- It lowers the level of sweating.
- It has anti-inflammatory action.
- Reduces pain in the joints, throat, muscles.
How to make sage tea
To make tea with sage, you need to heat the water, add 1 tbsp. l dried sage or fresh finely chopped leaves. Fill with boiling water and leave to infuse. Cover the mug, after 4 minutes, filter the tea. To make it tastier, a slice of lemon or a teaspoon of honey is added.
Attention! In addition to the beneficial effects of cooked tea, there are a number of negative effects that should be considered. Allergic reactions are possible. The plant can actively interact with medications. Need to consult with experts. Do not use pregnant and lactating women. This option is more suitable when mothers want to wean children from breastfeeding.
In cosmetology
Sage extract is used in cosmetics in the form of:
- Balm
- Crema.
- Shampoo
- Skin care products.
In addition, sage-based products are used:
- In cosmetology in the form of an effective plant that can rejuvenate the skin.
- The plant allows you to tighten the skin, reducing damage and new scars.
- Infusions and decoctions on sage prevent hair loss and contribute to their accelerated growth.
- If lips become chapped, hygienic lipstick based on sage works well. Creates an anti-inflammatory film, protecting the lips from the influence of external weather factors.
For decorative purposes
- Some types of plants are used for decorative purposes by landscape designers. They grow quite quickly and do not require special care. They are combined with other plants quite successfully. Used in flowerbeds, misborders.
- Varieties of low growth can be seen in rock gardens.
- Blue sage flowers look great with a poppy planting, rudbeckia, Coreopsis, wolfberry.
- Different types of sage are present both on the terraces and on the balcony. In the garden, it is a favorable atmosphere for butterflies and bees that pollinate other types of crops.
- Sage is perfectly combined with other flowers planted in flower beds.
Growing up
Choice of place
This plant loves dry, warm and bright places where sun rays make their way through other trees and plants. The required soil is humus with the exact amount of lime.
Care
Watering sage should be moderate, and best of all on dry days. They do not need excessive moisture. Young shoots are watered more often. Be sure to carry out loosening and weeding. At the time of growth can be fed with compost. Then, caring for him, sage is pruned at the time of flowering.
By winter, it is necessary to cut and compacted as much as possible with compost. If the winter is not snowy and with severe frosts, the plant is covered with brushwood. If pruned correctly each year, then sage produces more leaves, but flowering will decrease.
In principle, in the form of culinary and medical plants - pruning is an excellent method for increasing production, for decorative purposes it is not.
Breeding
For the reproduction of shrubs used seedlings, seeds. The plant is divided and grafted. It is sown, as a rule, in spring. A separated in early fall or spring. And in June, derived cuttings. First, the cuttings are placed in a vessel with water. After the roots appear, transplant to a permanent place. Unlike the variety, the interval should be up to 40 centimeters. The cuttings are watered regularly, so that it will strengthen superbly.
Landing
- The soil is dug to a depth of 30 centimeters. They are cleared of weeds, after which the soil is loosened and harrowed.
- Width between rows - from 70 cm.
- You will see the first boring in three weeks. Remove the weeds again and burn the soil.
- Sage is a plant that does not get sick and is rarely affected by insects.
- As a rule, the first year - the plant is overgrown with shoots. If in time to clear old shoots, soon new ones appear and larger leaves grow.They are collected twice a year. First, before flowering, and after - in early autumn. Break the leaves by hand. First, the leaves are collected, located below. And in the fall - the rest.
- The method of drying is carried out under a canopy in the air. Collected leaves should be spread out in a thin layer.
- Seeds are harvested during the drilling process in the cups located below. Raw materials are stored in containers with maximum sealing. Shelf life - up to 1 year.
Sage is a very beautiful and useful plant. I really wanted to cook meat with him.