Herb

All you want to know about Herb

This article is about garden herbs. For botanical herbs, see Herbaceous plant. For other uses, see Herb (disambiguation).

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Basil, a common herb

A(n) herb (pronounced /ˈhɝb/ or /ˈɝb/; see pronunciation differences) is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like^[1].

1 Uses
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

Uses

Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, or in some cases even spiritual entheogen usage. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. In medicinal or spiritual use any of the parts of the plant might be considered "herbs", including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, root bark, inner bark (cambium), berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions.

Culinary herbs

Culinary use of the term "herb" typically distinguishes between herbs, from the leafy green parts of a plant, and spices, from other parts of the plant (including seeds, berries, bark, root, fruit, and even occasionally dried leaves). Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that like spices they are used in small amounts and provide flavor rather than substance to food.

Some herbs are shrubs (such as rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis), or trees (such as bay laurel, Laurus nobilis) – this contrasts with botanical herbs, which by definition cannot be woody plants.

Medicinal herbs

Many plants contain phytochemicals that have effects on the body. There may be some effects even when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum) or of kava (Piper methysticum) can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to poisoning, and should be used with caution. Some herbs that are used not only for recreation can also be used for medicinal purposes such as cannabis.

Religious herbs

Herbs are used in many religions – such as in Christianity (myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), ague root (Aletris farinosa) and frankincense (Boswellia spp)) and in the partially Christianized Anglo-Saxon pagan Nine Herbs Charm.

Angelica • Basil • Basil, holy • Basil, Thai • Bay leaf • Boldo • Bolivian Coriander • Borage • Chervil • Chives • Cicely • Coriander leaf (cilantro) • Cress • Curry leaf • Dill • Elsholtzia ciliata • Epazote • Eryngium foetidum (long coriander) • Hemp • Hoja santa • Houttuynia cordata (giấp cá) • Hyssop • Lavender • Lemon balm • Lemon grass • Lemon verbena • Limnophila aromatica (rice paddy herb) • Lovage • Marjoram • Mint • Mitsuba • Oregano • Parsley • Perilla (shiso) • Rosemary • Rue • Sage • Savory • Sorrel • Tarragon • Thyme • Vietnamese coriander (rau răm) • Woodruff

Spices

Ajwain (bishop's weed) • Aleppo pepper • Allspice • Amchur (mango powder) • Anise • Aromatic ginger • Asafoetida • Camphor • Caraway • Cardamom • Cardamom, black • Cassia • Cayenne pepper • Celery seed • Chenpi • Chili • Cinnamon • Clove • Coriander seed • Cubeb • Cumin • Cumin, black • Dill & dill seed • Fennel • Fenugreek • Fingerroot (krachai) • Galangal, greater • Galangal, lesser • Garlic • Ginger • Golpar • Grains of Paradise • Grains of Selim • Horseradish • Juniper berry • Liquorice • Mace • Mahlab • Malabathrum (tejpat) • Mustard, black • Mustard, brown • Mustard, white • Nigella (kalonji) • Nutmeg • Paprika • Peppercorn (black, green & white) • Pepper, long • Pepper, Brazilian • Pepper, Peruvian • Pomegranate seed (anardana) • Poppy seed • Saffron • Sarsaparilla • Sassafras • Sesame • Sichuan pepper (huājiāo, sansho) • Star anise • Sumac • Tasmanian pepper • Tamarind • Tonka bean • Turmeric • Vanilla • Wasabi • Zedoary • Zest

Herb and spice mixtures

Adjika • Advieh • Afghan spice rub • Baharat • Berbere • Bouquet garni • Buknu • Chaat masala • Chaunk • Chili powder • Crab boil • Curry powder • Fines herbes • Five-spice powder • Garam masala • Garlic salt • Harissa • Herbes de Provence • Jerk spice • Khmeli suneli • Lemon pepper • Masala • Mitmita • Mixed spice • Old Bay Seasoning • Panch phoron • Persillade • Pumpkin pie spice • Qâlat Daqqa • Quatre épices • Ras el hanout • Recado rojo • Sharena sol • Shichimi • Tabil • Tandoori masala • Za'atar

Lists of herbs and spices

List of Australian herbs and spices • Chinese herbs • List of Indian spices • List of culinary herbs and spices

Related topics

Marinating • Spice rub

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