Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an aromatic plant, native to the Mediterranean area of Southern Europe, that has been prized for its culinary and medical uses for centuries. Part of its appeal stemmed from the widespread belief that Rosemary stimulated and strengthened the memory, a quality for which it is still traditionally used. The plant gets its name from the Latin Rosmarinus, meaning 'dew of the sea'.
In Europe, Rosemary is associated with remembrance and as such, was used for long in funerals and weddings. Mourners dropped Rosemary springs into the grave to symbolize remembrance (of the deceased). In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the mentally unbalanced Ophelia, babbling about her father's death, "There's Rosemary --- that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember." Rosemary leaves and flowers were entwined the wreath worn by brides. A branch of Rosemary, decorated with silk ribbons, was presented to wedding guests as a symbol of love and loyalty.
One of the most common aromatic wild plants of the Mediterranean landscape, Rosemary grows abundantly in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Southern France and Greece. It is also grown in Algeria, China, Middle East, Morocco, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and to a limited extent in India (in the Nilgiris), where it is known as rusmari in Hindi.
The plant is a stiff, bushy shrub, much branched, with a characteristic aromatic fragrance. Leaves are 2 to 4mm wide, greenish and crinkled on top and covered with densely matted woolly hairs underneath.
Rosemary tea, made by steeping Rosemary flowers and leaves in boiling water, is used as a tonic for the digestive tract and the gall bladder. It is also used as an antiseptic gargle and a mouthwash, as it is known to cure bad breath and mouth infections. In Tunisia, Rosemary leaves are consumed to relieve spasms and to expel intestinal parasites. The essential oil of Rosemary forms part of many antibacterial medicines for the respiratory passages.
Rosemary also has many culinary uses. It is extensively used in French, Spanish and Italian cooking to flavour vegetable preparations such as roasted potatoes, stocks and stews and various kinds of grilled and roasted meats and fish.
Rosemary oil, distilled from the leaves and flowering tops of the plant, is extensively used in the manufacture of soaps, lotions, creams and perfumes. It is also used in processed food products such as frozen desserts, candies and alcoholic beverages.
