“This fresh new masterpiece excites the senses!” —Rosemary Gladstar, herbalist and bestselling author Good cooks know that when it comes to herbs, there is nothing better than harvesting them fresh from the garden. The Culinary Herbal highlights 97 delicious varieties—like black cumin, fenugreek, lemon balm, and sassafras—that every food lover will want to add to their kitchen garden. In this gorgeously photographed guide, you will learn which herbs offer the most flavor, how to grow them at home, and how to put them to use. Plant profiles are organized alphabetically by herb type and include basic growing information, flavor notes, and culinary uses. Additional information includes step-by-step instructions for harvesting, preserving, and storing, along with techniques for making pastes, syrups, vinegars, and butters.

For centuries herbs and spices have been an integral part of many of the world’s great cuisines. But spices have a history of doing much more than adding life to bland foods. They have been the inspiration for, among other things, trade, exploration, and poetry. Priests employed them in worship, incantations, and rituals, and shamans used them as charms to ward off evil spirits. Nations fought over access to and monopoly of certain spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, when they were rare commodities. Not only were many men’s fortunes made in the pursuit of spices, spices at many periods throughout history literally served as currency. In Culinary Herbs and Spices of the World, Ben-Erik van Wyk offers the first fully illustrated, scientific guide to nearly all commercial herbs and spices in existence. Van Wyk covers more than 150 species—from black pepper and blackcurrant to white mustard and white ginger—detailing the propagation, cultivation, and culinary uses of each. Introductory chapters capture the essence of culinary traditions, traditional herb and spice mixtures, preservation, presentation, and the chemistry of flavors, and individual entries include the chemical compounds and structures responsible for each spice or herb’s characteristic flavor. Many of the herbs and spices van Wyk covers are familiar fixtures in our own spice racks, but a few—especially those from Africa and China—will be introduced for the first time to American audiences. Van Wyk also offers a global view of the most famous use or signature dish for each herb or spice, satisfying the gourmand’s curiosity for more information about new dishes from little-known culinary traditions. People all over the world are becoming more sophisticated and demanding about what they eat and how it is prepared. Culinary Herbs and Spices of the World will appeal to those inquisitive foodies in addition to gardeners and botanists.

Cilantro, lemon grass, and ginger root provide the distinctive flavor of many Asian and Pacific Rim dishes. In Hawai'i these herbs are used in everyday cooking as well as in the elaborate cuisine created by some of the Island's most innovative chefs. Yet even in Hawai'i, people find it difficult to identify these common herbs in the market or garden. Ethnic Culinary Herbs is a fully illustrated guidebook that describes more than thirty herbs grown, sold, and used in Hawai'i. (Many can also be found in ethnic produce markets throughout North America.) Unlike most herb books, which cover the same limited range of species (largely those of European and Mediterranean origin), this volume brings together information about herbs from other parts of the world and not only identifies the plants but also explains their use and cultivation. Each species is identified by its scientific name, and common names are listed for several languages spoken in Hawai'i. (For example, the Chinese or garlic chive is also identified by its Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Thai, and Vietnamese names.) A brief, nontechnical description of each herb is accompanied by a full-page line drawing and one or more color photographs. Entries on culinary use are followed by specific instructions for the herb's cultivation and best methods of propagation. Pests and diseases are discussed as well as their control and treatment. An index of common and scientific names permits access to main entries using any name available to the reader. For those interested in observing growing plants, an appendix provides the location of all Honolulu Community Garden sites, where many of the herbs can be found. Herb fanciers, chefs, gardeners, and botanists will be delighted with this thoroughly reliable and useful guide.

"A publication of the National Research Council of Canada Monograph Publishing Program."

Nothing tastes better than herbs harvested fresh from the garden! Grow Your Own Herbs shares everything you need to know to grow the forty most important culinary herbs. You’ll learn basic gardening information, including details on soil, watering, and potting. Profiles of 40 herbs—including popular varieties like basil, bay laurel, lemon verbena, tarragon, savory, thyme, and more—feature tasting notes, cultivation information, and harvesting tips. Additional information includes instructions for preserving and storing, along with techniques for making delicious pastes, syrups, vinegar, and butters. If you are new to gardening, have a limited space, or are looking to add fresh herbs to their daily meals, Grow Your Own Herbs is a must-have.

This beautifully illustrated guide to growing and cooking with fresh herbs offers 50 recipes that showcase the flavor of basil, sage, mint, and more. Cooking teacher and best-selling cookbook author Lynn Alley shows you how to make the most of fresh herbs, from your own garden to your own table. With profiles on mint, dill, rosemary, thyme, parsley, tarragon, sage, basil, cilantro, and oregano, Lynn proves that fresh herbs are an easy way to add flavor without a lot of fuss—or a lot of fat. Cooking with Herbs features recipes for seasonings, spreads, and dressings, as well as mouthwatering dishes like Apple, Sage, and Hazelnut Rounds; Cheddar, Mustard, Garlic, and Chive Mac ‘n’ Cheese; Polenta with Two Cheeses, Basil, and Oregano; Potatoes Rosti with Indian Flavors; Savory Tomato Sorbet with Tarragon, Chervil, and Parsley; and Deep Chocolate and Peppermint Cheesecakes. Lynn also offers easy tips and techniques for starting your own container herb garden, from picking your plants to choosing the perfect spot—even if you don’t have a yard!

Many herbs and spices, in addition to their culinary use for taste, contain chemical compounds which have medicinal uses. For this reason, herbs and spices have been used for treating various ailments since ancient times. Modern scientific methods have enabled researchers to isolate bioactive compounds from herbs and spices and perform chemical analyses, which can be used to develop medicines to treat different diseases. This book series is a compilation of current reviews on studies performed on herbs and spices. Science of Spices & Culinary Herbs is essential reading for medicinal chemists, herbalists and biomedical researchers interested in the science of natural herbs and spices that are a common part of regional diets and folk medicine.