Herbs That Will Flavor Your Life

Many of the cut and dried herbs we buy in jars at the supermarket are not just for flavoring food. Fresh from the garden, they’re traditionally offered at sacred ceremonies and spiritual quests, serving as tangible representations of what we humans yearn for: honor, fidelity, purification, love. Herbs were also planted in pots kept in the dooryard or courtyard to bless a house with these assets. Here’s a short guide to their meaning.

Sandra Garson is the author of Veggiyana, the Dharma of Cooking and How to Fix a Leek and Other Food From Your Farmers’ Market. As a longtime student of Tibetan Buddhism and well-known cook for Dharma centers from Maine to Mongolia, she became the first food historian to explore the Buddha’s influence on how the world now eats. This led to exploration of more religious beliefs about food.

Rosemary

Perhaps rosemary’s unforgettable scent made it the symbol of remembrance and its byproduct, fidelity. At a funeral, a sprig would be placed in the deceased’s hand so they wouldn’t forget loved ones. Sprigs were entwined into a wreath and worn by brides to represent fidelity, love, and memory of childhood innocence. Anne of Cleves, Henry the Eighth’s 4th wife, wore a rosemary wreath at her wedding, and Shakespeare’s Ophelia says to Hamlet: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember!” Legend says rosemary, which grows wild on the dry, rocky hillsides of the Mediterranean, originally had white flowers; they turned blue when the Virgin Mary, resting during her flight to Egypt, removed her blue cloak and laid it on the plant. A Spanish proverb says men indifferent to the scent of rosemary are likely to be insensitive to women and the pleasures of life. “…Who passeth by the rosemarie And careth not to take a spraye For woman’s love no care has he, Nor shall he though he live for aye… “

Parsley

Ancient Greeks and Romans noticed many parsley seeds didn’t germinate and decided the herb belonged to the Devil who hoarded its seeds. They didn’t dare eat this sign of the underworld, this harbinger of death, so the Greeks put wreaths of parsley in tombs. Their saying, "to need only parsley" was like our saying, "one foot in the grave." The Romans dedicated parsley to funeral rites too, making it a symbol of Persephone who left the Earth half of every year. Early Christians consecrated parsley to Saint Peter, guardian of the gates of heaven. We now know parsley seeds contain furamocoumarins, powerful chemicals that prevent nearby weed seeds from germinating. Maybe the ancients understood this magical protection power. The great poet Homer describes warriors feeding their chariot horses parsley before a battle. To keep bad spirits away, Greek gardens frequently had huge parsley borders, and Romans gave parsley wreaths to wedding guests. Some people even believed parsley would only sprout in the garden of a household run by people the Devil feared: women.

Bay Leaf

Bay leaves come from the bay laurel tree cultivated through all recorded history. Perhaps respect for its great age led ancient Greeks and Romans to glorify it as the symbol of honor. They wove its precious leaves into wreaths to crown the victorious. Thus our expressions: “resting on your laurels”, and “look to your laurels” that means “don’t besmirch your reputation.” In the Bible, bay leaves symbolize prosperity, honor and fame. To Christians, the leaves of this timeless tree represent Christ’s resurrection, and are often used in rituals re-enacting it. The Greek name for this herb, daphne, comes from Greek mythology. Daphne, daughter of the river god and earth goddess, was a beautiful nymph transformed by her worried parents into a bay laurel tree to escape Apollo's lustful pursuit and retain her virginity. Bay leaves therefore also represent purity and purification, key components of honor.

Sage

Our word sage comes from the Latin salvia, which reveals ancient respect for this herb. Its dried sprigs were burned to purify a temple or religious ritual elsewhere because Greeks and Romans believed its smoke imparted wisdom and brainpower. Arab physicians thought sage induced immortality, or at least long life. White sage is sacred to Native Americans who burn it in smudge pots or smudge sticks to purify a ritual space or new abode. New Age spiritual smudge sticks are composed of sage. This herb is still believed to have such magical power, some people carry its leaves in their wallet to promote financial gain, or burn the leaves to increase wisdom or reach the wisdom of their spirit guide. They say you can make a wish, write it on a sage leaf, hide that leaf under your pillow, and if you dream about your wish during the next three nights, it will come true.

Basil

The sweet basil of pesto got its name from the Greek basilikon, royal or kingly, possibly because its flowers match imperial Tyrian purple dye. In French it’s “the royal herb” and Catholics borrowed its Latin name basilica for their “royal” cathedrals. Basil was growing at the crucifixion site when Helen and St Constantine found the Holy Cross, so it’s honored at the annual Feast of the Cross, and used by Greek Orthodox to scent holy water. They also associate it with St. Basil and celebrate his January 1 feast day with priests blessing basil sprigs. Pots of the herb, which Greeks believe have healing power, are then placed around the altar. Sweet scent of basil is also associated with love. It’s mentioned B.C. as a flavor that drives men insane. In Shakespeare’s time, it was said “to procure a cheereful and merry heart.” On Portugal’s religious holidays of Saint John and Saint Anthony, dwarf bush basil is traditionally presented to a sweetheart in a pot, with a poem.

Holy Basil/Tulsi/Thai Basil

This basil, different from sweet basil, has a peppery clove taste, a sharp flavor frequently used to accent Thai stir-fries. In its native India, it’s tulsi, and Hindus deem it so sacred, they grow it around their temples. Many also grow plants in special pots in front or in the courtyard of their house. Water mixed with its petals is given to the dying to raise their departing souls to heaven. Tulsi means “the incomparable one”, and represents the great goddess Lakshmi, consort of Krishna. Every year on the lunar calendar day that starts the auspicious wedding season, a pot of Holy basil is ritually married in Hindu temples to Krishna. It’s the most prominent herb in Ayurvedic medicine, a true panacea. Tulsi is popular in the US as an herbal tea. Chemicals in it are thought to decrease pain, swelling, stress and blood sugar spikes.