Nothing is more delicious than a recipe cooked with fresh herbs. From the sweet scent of lavender blossoms in a pitcher of lemonade to the appetizing flavor of just-picked basil in your tomato sauce, you can’t beat garden-to-table herbs. Once you’ve experienced the joy of fresh herbs taken straight from your windowsill or kitchen garden, you will never want to go back to store bought herbs. Fresh organic herbs are tastier and more fragrant than commercially dried herbs from the supermarket — and they’re better for you, too. Grown without toxic chemicals and free from preservatives or fillers, organic herbs are the healthiest choice for all of your meals and herbal remedies.
Organic Herbs
There are dozens of delicious organic herbs that you can grow at home. Here are just a few to whet your appetite.
Oregano
A classic in Italian food, this robust and pungent herb is perfect in bean dishes, tomato-based sauces, and oil infusions. Because the taste is quite strong, it’s a good idea to add oregano to your meals at least 15 minutes before serving the food so that the flavor can develop.
Basil
Another herb inextricably associated with Italian food, basil has a refreshing, resinous flavor. You can get the most out of your fresh organic basil by tearing the leaves with your fingers rather than chopping them. Basil also has therapeutic properties — inhaling the fragrance from the torn leaves is a natural pick-me-up.
Garlic
Delicious, healthy, and so easy to grow, no kitchen should be without organic garlic. You can grow your own very simply by just placing a clove of organic garlic in clean soil. Garlic is naturally heart-healthy and helps support immune function.
Chives
The perfect complement to salads and sour cream dips, this tiny relative of the onion grows quickly and looks pretty on your windowsill. When you need some, snip a few leaves into your food with kitchen scissors.
Mint
A classic herb that’s perfect in all sorts of dishes, mint is delicious in both sweet and savory recipes. You can add mint to your tea or brew it on its own for a soothing digestive infusion. For variety, try lemon mint or apple mint, too.
Sage
A key ingredient in many stuffing recipes, sage has a savory flavor that is perfect with white meat and poultry. Try adding chopped organic sage to your home-made bread recipes for a delicious twist.Organic Herbs for Cooking
Does it matter if your herbs are organic? While you may not use much of an herb, even small amounts of pesticides and other chemicals build up over time.. If you’re growing at home, using organic OMRI Listed® products is critical. Anything you put on your herbs will permeate not just your food but your home. Also, herbs grown organically are often tastier and have better yields than herbs grown using conventional methods.
How to Dry Herbs
You can preserve fresh herbs by drying them. If you have a space with dry air and good ventilation, you can dry your own herbs by hanging them up in bunches. Make sure they are away from the walls and other surfaces to ensure adequate ventilation. If you don’t have anywhere to dry herbs, try laying on a baking tray in the oven on low heat. You can also purchase a dehydrator if you plan to dry lots of herbs in bulk.
Dry Herb Vaporizers
If you plan on using your herbs therapeutically, you might want to consider vaporization for certain types of herbs. Fresh organic herbs can also be used in soaps, fragrances, and in lavender bags or sachets. A dry herb vaporizer allows you to get the essential oils’ full benefit in your organic herbs. You’ll find endless uses for them around your kitchen and home once you start exploring the world of herbs.