What Is An Herb and How to Select Herbs?

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What Is An Herb?
So what’s an herb? The answer depends upon who you ask. A botanist will say it’s a plant that grows aboveground that doesn’t have a woody stem. A chef might say that it’s a seasoning ingredient from a temperate climate, unlike a spice, which comes from a tropical climate. For the purposes of this book, I’ll refer to an herb as any useful plant that we use for healing. For example, dandelion is a useful plant for the gall bladder and the liver, so I’ll call it an herb.

Usually, herbs are not the main ingredients of cuisine, but they’re still important parts of the
diet. Some powerful herbs, like maca, which is found in the Amazon rainforest, are eaten as
standalone foods, but most herbs are used as seasonings. The best herbs are picked fresh from your own organic garden. An herb garden might consist of a pot of herbs on a windowsill, or it could be a huge plot in your backyard. For those who choose not to grow their own herbs, we’re fortunate that excellent quality herbs are now commercially available. I recommend using organic herbs in all cases if possible

How to Select Herbs
If you’re going to be purchasing dried herbs, it’s a good idea to learn to judge if they’re fresh. They should look vibrant in color and smell fresh. Some herbs retain their color better than others; with practice you’ll learn to recognize great quality.

Most herbs have a shelf life of about one year. Keep them in a cool dark place, such as a cabinet, not in a spice rack over the stove. Whole herbs retain their freshness longer than powdered ones. I use whole dried herbs when they’re available, but freeze-dried herbs retain their flavor and color well, too.

1. Coffee grinder
You may use an electric coffee grinder to prepare herbs. Don’t use it for coffee, though, since coffee has a strong aroma and can taint your herbs. Likewise, the herbs you grind in a coffee grinder could end up flavoring your coffee. Imagine peppermint-flavored coffee; it’s not exactly a breakfast taste you would want, right? Keep separate coffee grinders for coffee and herbs so that they’ll both taste as they should.

2. Garlic press
This is another useful tool—in addition to pressing garlic, it’s fabulous for crushing fresh gingerroot.

3. Mortar and pestle
If you use fresh herbs, these are very useful. Plus, it’s satisfying to pound the herbs and inhale their aromas.

4. Dark jarsCollect and reuse jars in assorted sizes. They’ll come in handy for some of your remedies. Be sure to label your products when you create them, lest you get them mixed up. The best jars are dark, because they keep light from oxidizing the herbs. Herbs stored in clear jars won’t last as long as those stored in dark jars

5. An herb journal
Keep a small notebook in your kitchen for detailing the herbs and herbal mixtures that you try. When you find one that’s really successful, make a note of it so you can go back and find it when you need it again.

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