Welcome to FabulousFusionFood's Herb Guide. This is the home page of the culinary herb guide presented on this site that lists, provides descriptions for and gives links to foods that use that herb, with over 95 culinary herbs listed.

This is a the first is a series of pages describing the spices, herbs, edible flowers and wild foods that you can use as ingredients on this site. I hope that these pages will allow my visitors to better navigate this site. As well as displaying recipes by name, country and region of origin I am now planning a whole series of pages where recipes can be located by meal type and main ingredient. This page gives a link to the individual herbs added to and described on this site.

In terms of flavouring, at least for economic impact, herbs have tended to play second fiddle to spices. The majority of herbs need to be used fresh, their flavour chemicals tend to be volatile. As a result, herbs, typically, are grown locally, added fresh and used towards the end of cookery. Which is not to say that they're not important in cookery. They can be vital and some combinations, like French fines herbes or bouquets garnis are key to the flavour profile of a dish.

What is an Herb?

By definition a herb is any herbaceous part of a plant. This means any combination of the stems the leaves and the flowers. Basically those parts of a plant that live above ground (in contrast the roots of a plant if used as a flavouring are generally considered as spices, as are the seeds and fruit of a plant). The list below therefore describes as many parts of a plant as possible if they are used (either fresh or dried) as a food flavouring. The exception here is the woody stem, which tends to be thought of as a spice rather than an herb.

There will be many herbs that you will find familiar here and hopefully there will be a number that you have not heard of before. The aim of this guide is to open your eyes (and your culinary skills) to the wealth of plants and plant parts that can be used to enhance the flavours of many dishes. If you come away from reading this guide with a new appreciation for the herbs that are available to your kitchen then I believe that my work in generating this page has, to a great extent, been vindicated.

It should be recalled that the definition of 'herb' is relatively modern and in more ancient times the lines between herbs and spices were often blurred and a 'spice' seems to have been defined mare as anything that bore a strong aroma. Thus herbs, spices and incense could all come under the label 'spice'; mainly because they were not perishable and could be transported for many months with little loss of pungency. A herb, in contrast was a flavouring that could be picked fresh from the garden and used in a dish.

The glory days of herbs were in the Middle Ages and the Tudor era where herbs were an essential part of any apothecary's garden and both monks and physicians would grow herbs more for their medicinal than their culinary value (though this did not preclude these herbs from being used for the pot!). It was only during the 18th century with the advent of the modern cookery book that herbs came back into vogue for their culinary value and today a well-stocked herb and spice rack is an essential for any serious cook's kitchen.

Partly this is due to Charlemagne, who effectively made herb gardens commonplace. Indeed, the spread of many herbs from the Mediterranean to Northern and Western Europe was due to the Frankish Empire of the ninth century CE. Indeed, this spread can be traced back to the beginning of the 9th century when Charlemagne wrote and edict called Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii Caroli Magni. Within he defined a large number of administrative, legal and agricultural rules for the Frankish empire. In particular, at the end of the document there is a long list of culinary and medicinal herbs that he decreed should be grown in every Imperial garden:

Volumus quod in horto omnes herbas habeant, id est lilium, rosas, fenigrecum, costum, salviam, rutam, abrotanum, cucumeres, pepones, cucurbitas, fasiolum, ciminum, ros marinum, careium, cicerum italicum, squillam, gladiolum, dragantea, anesum, coloquentidas, solsequiam, ameum, silum, lactucas, git, eruca alba, nasturtium, parduna, puledium, olisatum, petresilinum, apium, levisticum, savinam, anetum, fenicolum, intubas, diptamnum, sinape, satureiam, sisimbrium, mentam, mentastrum, tanazitam, neptam, febrefugiam, papaver, betas, vulgigina, mismalvas, id est althaea, malvas, carvitas, pastenacas, adripias, blidas, ravacaulos, caulos, uniones, britlas, porros, radices, ascalonicas, cepas, alia, warentiam, cardones, fabas maiores, pisos mauriscos, coriandrum, cerfolium, lacteridas, sclareiam. Et ille hortulanus habeat super domum suam Iovis barbam.

De arboribus volumus quod habeant pomarios, diversi generis, prunarios, diversi generis, sorbarios, mespilarios, castanearios, persicarios, diversi generis, cotoniarios, avellanarios, amandalarios, morarios, lauros, pinos, ficus, nucarios, ceresarios diversi generis.

Some of the plants described remain uncertain, but this portion of the edict can be translated as:

We want that they should have all herbs in the garden, this is flag (Iris germanica), dog rose, fenugreek, costmary, sage, rue, southern­wood, cucumbers, musk melons, bottle gourds, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata or maybe hyacinth bean), cumin, rosemary, caraway, chickpea, squill, gladiolus, bisort (Polygonum bistorta or manyb tarragon), anise, cococynth (Citrullus colocynthis or maybe white briony), heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum or maybe marigold), baldmoney (Meum athamanticum or maybe ajawin) sermountain, lettuce (or wild lettuce), nigella, rocket, watercress, burdock, pennyroyal, angelica (or maybe alexanders), parsley, celery, lovage, savine, dill, fennel, chicory, burningbush, mustard, savory, water mint, spearmint, horse mint, tansy, catmint, centaury (Centaurium erithrea or maybe feverfew), poppy, Swiss chard, hazelwort, all mallows, that is marsh mallow and common mallow, carrots, parsnips, orache, amaranth, turnip, cabbage, onions (or maybe wild garlic), chives, leeks, radish, shallots, onions, garlic, madder, fuller’s teasel (or maybe cardoon), broad bean, peas, coriander, chervil, caper spurge, clary sage. And each gardener shall have roof houseleek (Jupiter’s beard) growing on the top of his house.

Of the trees, we wish that they should have apples (or maybe bitter oranges) of various kinds, plums of various kinds, sorbs, medlars, chestnuts, peaches of various kinds, quinces, hazelnuts, almonds, mulberries, bay laurel, stone pines, fig, walnuts, sweet cherries (or maybe sour cherries) of various kinds.

For the first time, there was a canonical list of plants that should be planted for food and medicinal purposes. Though the Carolingian empire soon fell, this list was adopted by the monasteries of the Middle Ages and as the monasteries spread northwards and westwards they brought these plants, along with the techniques needed to raise them with them. This is why so many of these plants have survived in our gardens even to this day.

Below you will find a listing of and links to every culinary herb described in this guide (along with links to representative recipes for that herb). There are 98 herbs described in all, though the list below is longer as it provides alternate names for many herbs:

Jump to herbs beginning with:
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

A Achillea ageratum Acmella oleracea Adansonia digitata African Blue Basil Agastache foeniculum Alecost Alehoof Allherb Allium cepa Allium hookeri Allium tuberosum Allium schoenoprasum Aloysia triphylla American Melissa Anethum graveolens Angelica Angelica archangelica Anise Basil Anise Hyssop Anise Myrtle Aniseed Myrtle Aniseed Tree Anthriscus cerefolium Apium graveolens Appleringie Artemisia abrotanum Artemisia dracunculus Artemisia vulgaris Arrayan Asian Chives Aspalathus linearis Assam Tea Atriplex hortensis B Backhousia citriodora Balsam Herb Baobab leaves Basil Basilie Bayleaves Bee Balm Beebread Bergamot Bible Leaf Big Thyme Bissap/Roselle Bitter Buttons Bitterleaf Black Benny Black Tea Blackcurrant Leaves Bladder Seed Blue Giant Hyssop Boldo Leaf Bottle tree leaves Borago officinalis Borage Boy's Love Brazil Cress Broad-leaved Sorrel Broadleaf Sage Bugloss Burnet Burrage Bushy Lippia Bushy Matgrass Butter Clarifying Herb C Calamint Calamintha nepeta Calamintha sylvatica Cambodian Mint Camellia sinensis Carum carvi Cardamom Caraway Catnip Catmint Catswort Celery Leaves Chadon Benit Chameleon Plant Chenopodium ambrosioides Chenopodium bonus-henricus Chervil Chilean Myrtle China Tea Chinese Boxthorn Leaves Chinese celery Chinese Chives Chinese Leek Chinese Lizard Tail Chives Chopsuey Greens Cilantro Cinnamomum tamala Citrus hystrix DC Clinopodium douglasii Cloud Plant Common Calamint Common Rue Common Sage Common Sorrel Common Tansy Common Thyme Common Wormwood Coriander Coriandrum sativum Cornish Pepperleaf Coronilla Costmary Cow Bitter Crete Dittany Crimson Beebalm Crocus sativus Crown Daisy Cryptotaenia japonica Cuban Oregano Culantro Culantro Coyote Culinary Sage Curly Parsley Curry Leaf Curry Tree Curry-leaf Tree Curry Plant Cutting Leaf Celery Cymbopogon citratus Cymbopogon flexuosus D Dalmatian Sage Dictamus Diktamo Dill Dillby Diplotaxis tenuifolia Dittander Dittany Dittany of Candie Dittany of Crete Dragon Herb Duck-tongue E Eared Pepper East Indian Lemongrass Edible Chrysanthemum Effirin Elettaria cardamomum Elsholtzia ciliata Emperors Mint English Mace Epazote European Sage Eryngium foetidum F Fennel Hyssop Fennel Leaves Fenugreek Fish Mint Fish Plant Fishwort Fitweed Flat-leaf Parsley Flavon Foeniculum vulgare Fragrant Balm Fragrant Giant Hyssop French Parsley French Sorrel G Gambey Tea Bush Gambia Tea Bush Garden Angelica Garden Burnet Garden Chervil Garden Lovage Garden Mint/Spearmint Garden Orach Garden Rue Garden Sage Garden Sagebrush Garden Sorrel Garderobe Garland Chrysanthemum Garlic Chives Hooker's Onion Giant Hyssop

Goji Berry Leaves Gold Melissa Golden Buttons Golden Sage Good King Henry Gourmet's Parsley Green Mint Green Onions Green Shallots Green Tea H Heartleaf Hedge Mustard Herb of Angels Herb-of-grace Herba Sancti Mariæ Helichrysum italicum Hibiscus sabdariffa Hierba Buena Hierba Santa Hierba Negra Hoja Santa Holy Basil Holy Thai Basil Hooker Chives Hooker's Onion Honeywort Hop Marjoram Horse Mint Hot Mint Houttuynia Houttuynia cordata Hyssop Hyssopus officinais I Indian Bay Leaves Indian Borage Indian Mint Indian Nettle Indian Pennywort Indian Plume Indonesian Lime Leaf J Japanese Greens Japanese Parsley Japanese Water Pepper Japanese Wild Parsley Jerusalem Parsley Jesuit's Tea Java Waterdropwort K Kaffir Lime Leaves Kieffer Lime Leaves Kelümamüll Kitchen Sage King Desertparsley Knotted Marjoram Koseraut Koseret L Lad's Love Laksa Leaves Lavandula angustifolia Lavender Laurus nobilis Leaf Celery Lemongrass Lemon Balm Lemon Basil Lemon Beebrush Lemon Herb Lemon Myrtle Lemon Plant Lemon thyme Lemon Verbena Lemon-scented Backhousia Lemon-scented Verbena Lesser Calamint Levisticum officinale Limnophila aromatica Lincoln Weed Lincolnshire Spinach Lipia Lippia abyssinica var. koseret Lippia alba Lippia graveolens Liquorice Lippa Long Coriander Long Onions Lovage Love Parsley Lover's Plant Luma apiculata Lycium barbarum M Magrood Maid's Ruin Makrut Malabar Leaf Malabathrum Marjoram Marshpepper Melissa Melissa officinalis Mentha pulegium Mentha spicata Mentha x piperita Methi Mexican Bay Laurel Mexican Bay Leaf Mexican Coriander Mexican Mint Mexican Mint Marigold Mexican Oregano Mexican Pepperleaf Mexican Tarragon Mexican Tea Mexican Thyme Mexican Wild Sage Micromeria sp Mint Geranium Mitsuba Monarda didyma Monkey Bread Tree Mosquito Plant Mother of Herbs Mountain Balm Mountain Pepperleaf Mugwort Murraya koenigii Myrtle Myrtus communis N Nasturtium Nasturtium officinale Nepeta cataria Nepeta mussinii Nepitella O Oaxaca Lemon Verbena Ocimum basilicum Ocimum basilicum Ocimum × citriodorum Ocimum kilimandscharicum Ocimum sanctum Oenanthe javanica Old Man Oldman Wormwood Onion Sticks Oregano Orégano Brujo Oregon Tea Oriental Garlic Origanum dictamnus Origanum majorana Origanum vulgare Oswego Tea Our Lord's Wood P Palo Colorado Pandan Leaves Pandanus Pandanus amaryllifolius Pandanus odorus Para Cress Paracress Parsley Pelargonium Pelargonium spp. Pelargonium capitatum 'Rose' Pelargonium citronellum 'Lemon' Pelargonium crispum 'Lemon' Pelargonium fragrans 'Logees' Pelargonium fragrans 'Nutmeg' Pelargonium graveolens 'Rose' Pelargonium odoratissimum 'Apple' Pelargonium quercifolium 'Almond' Pelargonium radens 'Rose' Pelargonium scarboroviae 'Strawberry' Pelargonium scabrum 'Apricot' Pelargonium tomentosum 'Peppermint' Pelargonium x citrosum 'Prince of Orange' Pelargonium x melissinum 'Lemon Balm' Pelargonium x nervosum 'Lime' Pelargonium x torento 'Ginger'

Pennyroyal Pericón Persicaria hydropiper Persicaria odorata Peumus boldus Pimpernel Pineapple Sage Pineapple Scented Sage Piper auritum Piper Sanctum Pitonia Peppermint Perennial Wall Rocket Perilla Perilla frutescens var. japonica Persian Cumin Petroselinum crispum Plectranthus amboinicus Poor Man's Asparagus Pot Marjoram Precious Onions Pudding Grass Puerto Rican Oregano Q Queen of Herbs R Rain Tree Leaf Rau Ram Red Sassafras Redbrush Redbush Ribes nigrum Rice Paddy Herb Ringwood Rooibos Root Beer Plant Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis Rumex acetosa Rumex spp Ruta graveolens S Sacred Basil Sacred Pepper Saffron Sage Saint Jospeh's Wort Salad Burnet Salad Onions Salvia elegans Salvia officinalis Salvia Sija Sand Mustard Sanguisorba minor Sassafras Sassafras albidum Satureja hortensis Satureja montana Saw-leaf Herb Saw-tooth Coriander Scallions Scarlet Beebalm Scarlet Monarda Scented Geraniums Scented Loppia Screw-pine Leaf Screw Tree Shado Beni Shiso Shortleaf Stopper Silky Sassafras Skunkweed Small Burnet Smartweed Sorrel Sortleaf Pepper Sour Dock Sour Grass Southern Wormwood Southernwood Spanish Hops Spanish Tarragon Spanish Thyme Spearmint Spinach Dock Spiny Coriander Spiritweed Spring Onions Squaw Mint Starflower Storkbills Stevia Stevia rebaudiana Summer Savory Sweet Basil Sweet Cumin Sweet Mace Sweet Marigold Sweet Marjoram Sweet Mary Sweet Maudlin Sweet Nancy Sweet Pigweed Sweet Verbena Myrtle Sweet Verbena Tree Sweet Yarrow Syzygium anisatum T Tade Tanacetum balsamita Tanacetum vulgare Tansy Tagetes lucida Tarragon Tasmanian Pepperleaf Tasmannia lanceolata Té de Pais Tea Temu Texan Tarragon Tex-Mex Oregano Thai Basil Three-in-one Herb Thyme Thymus pulegioides × Thymus vulgaris Thymus vulgaris Toothache Plant Trapaeolum majus Trigonella foenum-graecum True Cardamom True Sage U Umbrella Tree V Vernonia amygdalina Vernonia galamensis Vietnamese Balm Vietnamese Cilantro Vietnamese Coriander Vietnamese Lemon Balm Vietnamese Lemon Mint Vietnamese Mint Vietnamese Mint W Wall Rocket Water Celery Water Cress Water Dropwort Water Pepper Water Pepper Leaf Water Pepper Smartweed Watercress West Indian Goosefoot West Indian Lemongrass White Sassafras White Tea Wild Coriander Wild Lime Leaves Wild Marjoram Wild Rocket Wild Spearmint Winter Savory Winter Tarragon Wolfberry Leaves Wormseed X Xanthophthalmum coronarium Y Yerba Buena Yerba Santa Z

Using this Guide

To use this guide simply click on the first letter of the herb that you're looking for (above or below). This will take you to a table of all the herbs that begin with that letter where you can chose the herb you want. There are over 50 herbs in his guide so far, including common and rare herbs and herbs used in cuisines from around the world, and you can search by common name and scientific name.

You can also use the search box below to find the herb of your choice. You can use the common name or the scientific name or any text you choose: