Originally from south-eastern Europe: Albania, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Salvia officinalis is today cultivated in all temperate areas of the world where it has partly naturalized in arid and stony but well exposed soils.
Surprising decorative effects in the garden and balcony with the many species and varieties of Sage
Among the varieties of Salvia officinalis, in addition to the classic Salvia with downy silver leaves, there are: Salvia Icterina, with spotted leaves in green and golden yellow; the Aurea, with yellow leaves; the Tricolor, with green leaves, speckled with pink and edged with white; Purpurascens, with amaranth red leaves; the Crispa, with large leaves with curled edges; the Maxima, with very large and thick leaves (which are eaten fried in batter); the Albiflora, with white flowers.
All varieties suitable for borders, bushes, but also terrace pots, with priceless chromatic effects.
Sage is an indispensable ingredient of Mediterranean cuisine
The only, undisputed queen of the kitchen, among the many salvias, is Salvia officinalis.
The unmistakable flavor of Sage enriches dishes of all types of meat, in particular fatty meats, roasts, spit-roasted birds, stuffed duck and goose; fillings, pickled vegetables, boiled beans, omelettes, gravies, sauces; eels, Ligurian focaccia with sage, condiments based on butter, cream and sage, particularly suitable for gnocchi and ravioli.
Among the perhaps lesser-known uses: some sage leaves to flavor the boiling water of boiled chestnuts; hot wine flavored with sage leaves; Sage tea; the vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and butter flavored with sage.
However, gastronomes remember that Sage wants to be the protagonist and does not easily tolerate mixing with other aromas.
Over time, many virtues have been attributed to Sage, so much so that it has been defined as a sacred plant.
Among true and presumed ones, popular medicine credits Salvia with many properties: antidepressant, antidiarrheal, antiseptic and astringent on the intestinal mucosa; antisudoriffic, antispasmodic, balsamic in chronic catarrhs, asthma and tuberculosis; expectorants, cholagogues, digestive, emmenagogues, galactophogues, hepatic, hypoglycemic, resolving, tonic of the nervous system and perhaps others.
An interesting property attributed to Sage is that of lowering blood sugar; smoking dried Salvia leaves can resolve an asthma attack; the infusion is indicated against nightmares and night sweats of debilitated people, against depression, against fatigue
mental and, as a mouthwash, to treat canker sores and oral diseases; the flowering tops in decoction in milk prevent the flu; the elixir of sage leaves macerated in grappa cures rheumatism; for external use, Sage leaves have healing properties.
Characteristics of the plant
- Prefers sunny or partial shade exposures
- It tolerates not too intense cold
- Prefers low humidity