The use of sage is by no means limited to seasoning dishes. We looked around and collected the best ideas for using the Mediterranean aroma miracle.
How can you use sage creatively?
Sage can be used in many ways, for example as homemade throat drops, soothing syrup, refreshing jelly, spicy vinegar or aromatic liqueur. Dried sage can be used for coughs and colds, against insects or as a tea.
Use fresh sage imaginatively – creative tips
When it comes to caring for sage properly, harvesting and regular cutting go hand in hand. This means that the question of the best possible use of harvest surplus and clippings arises repeatedly throughout the season. Thanks to its intense aroma, fresh sage can only be used very sparingly as a seasoning. Be inspired by the following suggestions for imaginative use:
- Homemade throat sweets made from 8 grams of sage, 100 grams of sugar and 35 milliliters of water
- Soothing sage syrup made from 80 grams of leaves, 1 liter of water and 500 grams of sugar
- Refreshing sage jelly made from 10 fresh leaves, 1 liter of apple juice and 1 kilogram of preserving sugar
- Spicy sage vinegar made from 5 sage branches, 300 milliliters of rosé wine, 100 milliliters each of water and vinegar essence
Try sage liqueur, because you use 2 handfuls of fresh sage leaves in a clever way. Simply add it to 750 milliliters of raspberry spirit and let it steep for 1 week. Boil the sugar with water and let it cool. Now drizzle the sage-raspberry spirit mix through a fine sieve into the sugar-water and stir well.
Use dried sage perfectly – this is how it works
Once sage has dried, you can take your time to think about the ideal use. Compared to freshly harvested leaves, dry goods have a shelf life of 12 months or longer. Help yourself from the rich herb supply to use it like this:
- To relieve coughs and colds in the inhaler
- Laid out in the house, sage bouquets repel annoying insects
- Smoke fragrantly on the glowing coals of a fire bowl
Long before sage was used as a culinary herb, it was considered a natural remedy for a wide variety of ailments. The dried leaves, placed in warm water, serve as an invigorating foot bath. If fresh sage leaves are not available in winter, the dried herbs make a warming cup of tea. However, long-term use in high doses is not recommended due to the toxic thujone it contains.
Tips & Tricks
Essential oils tend to migrate into certain plastics. Storing fresh or dried sage leaves in PVC or polyethylene containers is therefore not recommended. Screw-top jars or jute bags are more suitable for this purpose.