Learn More About Rosemary

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean and Asian region, but hardy enough to thrive in cooler climates and considered easy to grow and pest resistant. The small, gray-green leaves look similar to small pine needles. They have a bittersweet, lemony, slightly piney flavor.

Rosemary was considered sacred to ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. According to myth, the Virgin Mary is said to have spread her blue cloak over a white-blossomed rosemary bush when she was resting, and the flowers turned blue. The shrub then became known as the "Rose of Mary" then later shortened to rosemary as it's called today.

Some say that rosemary takes its name from the Latin ros maris, which means "dew of the sea." This is likely in reference to the herb's preference for growing along the seashore of its indigenous domain.

Modern research has confirmed its antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant abilities. Both ingesting rosemary and/or using its essential oil can offer profound health benefits. The plant contains salicylic acid, the forerunner of aspirin. This may explain why massaging the oil of rosemary into joints effectively eases arthritic or rheumatic pain.

Learn more about Rosemary in Expedient Ingredient episode 4 from POV Italian Cooking in our latest video at https://youtu.be/SsUSstRpDF4