LAVENDER HAS BEEN A FAVORITE HERB FOR CENTURIES. THE HISTORIC USE AND RECOGNITION OF LAVENDER IS ALMOST AS OLD AS MAN. AS AN HERB, LAVENDER HAS BEEN IN DOCUMENTED USE FOR OVER 2,500 YEARS.
IN ANCIENT TIMES LAVENDER WAS USED FOR MUMMIFICATION AND PERFUME BY THE EGYPTIANS, PHOENICIANS, AND PEOPLE OF ARABIA. THE GREEKS AND ROMANS BATHED IN LAVENDER SCENTED WATER AND IT WAS FROM THE LOTION WORD "LAVO" MEANING "TO WASH" THAT THE HERB TOOK ITS NAME.
LAVENDER IS A MEMBER OF THE MINT FAMILY, AND IS CLOSE TO ROSEMARY, SAGE, AND THYME.
ENGLISH LAVENDER HAS THE SWEETEST FRAGRANCE OF ALL THE LAVENDERS AND IS THE ONE MOST COMMOMLY USED IN COOKING.
IN COOKING, USE 1/3 THE QUANITIY OF DRIED FLOWERS TO FRESH.
DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR, NURSES BATHED THE SOLDIERS WOUNDS WITH LAVENDER WASHES.
TO THIS DAY, THE FRENCH CONTINUE TO SEND BABY LAMBS TO GRAZE IN FIELDS OF LAVENDER, SO THEIR MEATS WILL BE TENDER AND FRAGRANT.THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN MAKE WITH LAVENDER, SACHET HEARTS, CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS, PILLOWS, AND JELLY.
Aunt Riz, I think I can actually smell the lavender on this page. And I loved learning about the lambs in the fields of lavender. What a beautiful sight that would be.
ReplyDeleteI always learn something from your blog.