A Trusty Herbs Guide, Every Kitchen Should Have One

Ever been in a situation where you need to identify an herb? If you have, wouldn’t an herbs guide be a handy thing to have to help you choose the herbs to suit your cooking. A good quality herbs guide should contain information about the different varieties, gardening & cooking tips & other relevant information.

Here’s Some Popular Varieties

What are some of the healthiest and most delicious herbs that are recommended by cooks and diners alike? Garlic is certainly at the top of any herbs guide, as this herb delivers both great taste and other physical benefits. Garlic can prevent heart disease and cardiovascular disease, and it also shows signs of preventing cancer development.

Another well regarded herb is Hawthorne berry and this too will be in every herbs guide. Known for its health benefits, it can reduce the risk of heart problems by enlarging the arteries & slowing the heart rate. Another ‘health’ herb is Ginko Bilobo, this one is great for people with macular degeneration

Sufferers of vertigo, depression & a number of other problems can be treated by it as well. Would you believe Licorice is considered a herb with health benefits, it helps with antiviral issues. To help with arthritis & Alzheimers & as a compliment to curry, Tumeric is the obvious choice here.

Herbs… Delicious, Healthy & Smell Wonderful

However, cooking with a guide to herbs is not just about healthy eating. Some herbs are primarily used for their fantastic taste. Basil offers a popular minty taste to Italian dishes while oregano adds a spicy robust taste. Other popular types of herbs for dining pleasure include chives, cilantro, dill, hyssop, mint, ginger, parsley, rosemary and thyme.

Herbs used in cooking are generally added in small quantities and their main use is to increase the taste without increasing substance. These herbs differ from other varieties like greens, spices, berries, etc and your herbs guide should explain these in detail. A portion of the kitchen herbs are really shrubs, Rosemary being one such example. And some or extracts from the bay laurel tree, while others are from non wooden (botanic) plants.

The Kitchen Cousins… Herbs & Spices

In case you’re wondering about the differences between spices and herbs, both terms have been used to describe dried parts of a plant, and both greatly improve the taste of food. As far as differences, spices are usually associated with aromatic plants such as pepper and cinnamon, whereas herbs tend to be associated with greener and leafier plants like mint and rosemary. Spices tend to grow in warmer temperatures, and herbs in more temperature parts. Over time however, spices became a general term that occasionally encompasses herbs, blends and other extracts.

If you are interested in becoming a better chef, then you must open your heart to the great variety of herbs out there! Basil, oregano, mint, ginger-they all have health benefits and taste great. Find yourself an herbs guide and start learning about the different uses and benefits that come from each of these culinary gifts.

Herb loving maniac & all round good guy Peter Williams, lives for herbs alone… so for more great information about a herb guide for the kitchen run, don’t walk to What Are The Most Common Herbs?