Salvia Officinalis

Sage (Salvia officinalis) comes in many varieties, including Greek sage, dwarf sage, pineapple sage, tricolor sage and golden sage. The botanical name derives from the word ‘salvere’, which means ‘to be saved’. Sage, just like rosemary, is part of the mint family and has a pungent and spicy herbaceous flavour. It is widely used in cooking and tea preparations, although Russian sage is commonly used for ornamental purposes for its lavender leaves.

A perennial plant, sage can be grown in well-drained soil and ample sunlight. It’s also an excellent way to repel common garden pests and to attract pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

The health benefits of sage have been documented for centuries. It is well-known to alleviate stomach pains and digestive upset and can also boost cognitive function and improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetics. Further, because it inhibits pancreatic lipase activity, sage can help with fat loss and serves as a natural treatment for obesity.

How to use sage

• Make a sage dressing for your next roast chicken dish
• Add dried sage to your chicken soup
• Sauté it with butter or ghee and add to your chicken pastas
• Make your own herb mix like our Herbes de Provence blend
• Place 2-3 sage leaves on each chicken breast next time you make a parchment paper steam pouch (en papillote)
• Prepare sage tea with mint

Further reading
Salvia Lavandulaefolia (Spanish Sage) Enhances Memory in Healthy Young Volunteers
Metformin-like Effect of Salvia Officinalis (Common Sage): Is It Useful in Diabetes Prevention?
Carnosic Acid, a New Class of Lipid Absorption Inhibitor From Sage