Category: Culinary Herbs
When cooking, it’s essential to know what are Culinary Herbs. Whether dried, decocted, or fresh, each herb has different uses. Fresh herbs are appealing to the eye, but not to the palate. Dried or decocted herbs have specks and a lesser flavor. Plus, fresh herbs can’t be purchased year round. Therefore, they must be dried or infused. Drying and infusing herbs are similar processes, but there are some differences between them.
Herbs are edible plants used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. They are either leaves or seeds or spices. Herbs are usually dried or fresh, and home cooks can use both fresh and dried versions of these spices. Herbs can be used to enhance the flavor of both savory and sweet dishes. Historically, herbal medicinal use dates back to the Middle Ages. Besides being used in cooking, they have been valued for their healing properties.
Herbs are commonly grown for their flavor and fragrance. Many are perennials, which are easy to grow. In the United States, most of them are grown in the temperate zone. Most herbs are not whole plants, but they contain some parts. The main advantage of culinary herbs is that they can be used sparingly, unlike vegetables. Besides enhancing flavor, they also contain beneficial phytochemicals that fight disease and delay the aging process.