Rosemary

In different countries, rosemary is called differently: the Germans - Balsamkraut, Marienkraut, Weihrauchkraut; English - rosemary, old man; French - romarin, encensier.

In addition to the above, rosemary has very beautiful names, for example, sea dew. Obviously, for its azure flowers, reminiscent of the sea. It is also called the bride's dress, wedding color, incense grass, dike, rosemary.

Rosemary is a true Mediterranean evergreen shrub. Interestingly, in the wild, it can reach a height of 2 meters, but if you decide to grow it in a pot at home, then its maximum height will be about 50 cm.

Rosemary roots are branched and very powerful. The bark of the shrub has a grayish-brown color. Tetrahedral branches are covered with needle-like (but, of course, not as small and dense as those of conifers) shiny leaves, which are slightly bent at the ends. Young twigs and the reverse side of the leaves are covered with fluff.

From February to May, rosemary blooms with blue-violet flowers that resemble a bell-shaped cup. The fruits are formed in September and are a smooth brown nut.

In one place, rosemary can last up to 20 years.

The Mediterranean countries are the birthplace of rosemary. Since the plant is thermophilic, on the territory of Russia it can be found in the southern regions of the country, in the Caucasus.Rosemary grows in Central Asia, in the south of Europe, it is cultivated in the Crimea.

As a spice, rosemary leaves and stems are used, the age of which is no more than a year. The collection is made during its flowering. For drying, use a dark and well-ventilated room. Dried raw materials are crushed to a powder state.

So that rosemary does not lose its spicy properties, it is stored in tightly closed cardboard containers for about a year.

The aroma of rosemary is very strong, slightly sweet, reminiscent of a mixture of pine, lemon and camphor smells. The taste of the leaves is sharp and spicy.

100 grams of dry rosemary contains 331 kcal. Of these, the "lion's share" belongs to carbohydrates. Their calorie content is 206 kcal, 110 kcal is fat and the remaining 15 kcal is protein.

• Proteins - 4.88 g
• Fats - 15.22 g
• Carbohydrates - 64.06 g
• Dietary fiber - 42.6 g
• Ash - 6.53 g
• Water - 9.31 g
• Fatty acids (saturated) - 7.37 g

For more information about the beneficial properties of rosemary, you can learn from the video.

The content of vitamins in 100 g of dry raw materials:

• B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B9) - 2.68 mg
• C - 61.2 mg
• PP - 1 mg

Micro and macro elements:

• Ca - 1.28 g
• Mg - 280 mg
• Na - 50 mg
• K - 955 mg
• P - 70 mg
• Fe - 29.25 mg
• Zn - 3.23 mg
• Cu - 0.550 µg
• Mg - 1.9 mg
• Se - 4.6 mcg

• Strengthens the human immune system.
• Rosemary has the inherent property to relieve inflammatory processes that occur in our body.
• Increases tone.
• The healing process of wounds and cuts with the use of rosemary is much faster.
• Rosemary is an antidepressant herb.
• Has expectorant properties.

• Rosemary raises blood pressure.
• May cause muscle spasms.
• Its properties can cause miscarriages in pregnant women.
• Rosemary can sting on the skin.

Despite the presence of useful properties, for some people its use is strictly prohibited.

• The use of rosemary during pregnancy is strictly prohibited.
• Rosemary is forbidden to people suffering from epileptic seizures.
• Rosemary is contraindicated for people with very sensitive skin.
• Children's age (up to 9 years).
• It is not recommended for hypertensive patients, as it can increase blood pressure.

The leaves and flowers of rosemary find their way into various culinary recipes. Most importantly, rosemary will not lose its properties during heat treatments.

Add rosemary in view of its rich aroma should be in small quantities, otherwise your dish will be bitter.

• Rosemary leaves can be used with almost any type of meat. It is added when marinating lamb, pig or rabbit meat to muffle the not-so-pleasant smell. Rosemary gives the dish a very pleasant aroma of the forest.
• The French add rosemary to make traditional spice blends called Herbs of Provence or Bouquet Garni.
• Rosemary is added to casseroles, stewing and frying. It will not spoil soups, but it will add piquancy to sauces.
• The perfect combination of products is cheese and rosemary.
• Rosemary leaves are used in the preparation of various desserts.
• If you're cooking with vegetables, feel free to add rosemary. Rosemary baked potatoes are delicious.To prepare it, you need large potatoes. It should be cut into 4 pieces. Then add rosemary leaves and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in the oven.

• Rosemary is used as a tonic and tonic for anemia. If a person suffers from general exhaustion of the body, impotence, rosemary will also help him.
• The anti-inflammatory properties of the plant are used in the treatment of joint diseases (rheumatism, sciatica). In this case, rosemary baths are useful.
• In complex therapy, rosemary will help a sick heart.
• Rosemary tea is prescribed for depression. Fragrant and healthy tea is prepared from a mixture of dry leaves of the following herbs, which are taken in equal proportions: rosemary, lemon balm, blueberries, St. John's wort. Pour a glass of boiling water over 2 tbsp. a spoonful of herbal mixture. Tea is infused for half an hour, then it is filtered and drunk.

Rosemary is useful in treating colds, especially coughs. It has a soothing effect on an irritated throat. You can drink it and gargle it with a sore throat. It is used in compresses.

To prepare a decoction of rosemary, you should take 2 teaspoons of crushed dry raw materials, 1 cup of boiling water and boil the resulting elixir for 20 minutes. Strained decoction is taken orally half an hour before meals. Drink it in a teaspoon 3 times a day.

For colds, you can also prepare an alcohol tincture of rosemary.

This requires 20 g of dry crushed leaves and a glass of vodka or alcohol (40 °). The mixture is infused for 10 days, then strain. Drink it 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals, diluted with water (25 drops of tincture in two tablespoons of water).

• Rosemary is used to fight dandruff. It also strengthens the hair, making it healthy and strong from the roots.
• Rosemary is used in the fight against oily hair. If they become oily very quickly, we recommend preparing a rinse from rosemary (5 sprigs) and ordinary mineral water (liter). After 20 minutes of boiling, the rinse aid is ready. It is filtered, cooled and rinsed with hair after using shampoo. Hair will stay clean and shiny longer.
• Rosemary relieves puffiness, stretch marks and cellulite.

• Rosemary smoothes the skin and eliminates scars and scars that are the consequences of acne.
• Rosemary cleanses and tones the skin very well. These properties of it are widely used in the composition of various anti-aging products aimed at smoothing wrinkles and improving complexion.

At home, you can make rosemary infused with red wine for normal to dry skin, or vodka for oily skin.

On a glass of alcohol content is taken 1 tbsp. a spoonful of rosemary sprigs. A container with tincture is placed for 1.5 months in a dark place. Don't forget to shake it every 2 days. After the mixture has stood the right time, it is filtered. Used as a lotion for rubbing the skin of the face and neck. You need to store such an elixir of youth in a cool place.

Rosemary speeds up the digestion process.It is recommended to use it as a spice for weight loss.

Usually, when losing weight, the process of burning fat is important for us. And in this case, tea will become an indispensable assistant. To prepare it, you need one chili pepper cut into small pieces, 2 tbsp. tablespoons of ordinary black tea and a pounded sprig of rosemary. The whole mixture is poured with 2 cups of boiling water. After 3 minutes the tea is ready. It should be drunk hot. It's great for burning extra calories.

• For the inhabitants of the Mediterranean, Crimea, rosemary serves as a beautiful hedge.
• Rosemary has antiseptic properties. Rosemary solution can be used to treat pets and places where they like to lie. The smell of the plant will kill the fleas.
• Sachets in which rosemary is added repel moths.

The most widely used varieties of rosemary in Russia are Dewdrop and Tenderness. foreign variety Seven Sea. He is short: 50 cm in height.

There is a variety of rosemary whose shoots spread along the ground. It bears the name prostratus. The height of the bush of such rosemary is only 15 cm.

Has pink flowers Roseus, and at Albiflorus they are white.

You can grow rosemary using seeds, layering, cuttings, or by separating the seedling from the bush.

The easiest way is, of course, seeds. For seedlings, seeds are sown in February-March. The sowing depth should be no more than 4 mm. The optimum temperature is from +12 C. The soil should be moderately moist, it is impossible to flood the plantings.

After a month, the seedlings can be transplanted into individual pots.

After the disappearance of frost, rosemary can be planted on a personal plot at a distance of 50 cm from each other.

Rosemary does not like wet soil, but the plant should not be under-watered. The leaves of the plant will become an indicator of watering. If rosemary leaves begin to turn yellow, then it has little moisture. If he began to drop leaves, then you have already flooded him.

Like any other plant, rosemary needs loosening, fertilizing and weeding. Once a month, you can “feed” it with nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing fertilizers.

• Rosemary was considered a sacred herb by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. Rites to exorcise evil spirits have always been performed using this herb.
• Rosemary symbolizes wealth and abundance. Therefore, in many countries, sprigs of rosemary are symbolically presented to young people at weddings so that they are happy and surrounded by well-being.
• The ancient Romans believed that rosemary flowers are saturated with the color of the sea, as they grow on the coast.
• Rosemary was part of the Hungarian water, which had not only medicinal properties, but also replaced perfume. There is a legend about how her recipe was obtained. Allegedly, the unique tincture was given by a certain hermit to Elizabeth, the Queen of Hungary (this was the name). Elizabeth practically could not move, stricken with gout. Baths with the use of a magical medicine put the queen on her feet and returned her youth and beauty. Over time, thyme, mint, sage, marjoram were added to the Hungarian water.