Dill - Herb of the Year 2010 By: Madeline Wajda This year May 1 was designated International Herb Day by the Herb Society of America and the International Herb Association. This year the Herb of the Year is dill, Anethum graveolens, a member of the Umbelliferae family as are fennel, parsley, and cilantro. Native to the Mediterranean region, dill was used by the ancient Romans and Greeks to crown returning war heroes; they also used it medicinally for digestive problems (a use that was to persist for centuries, even to today) and burned the seeds as incense. (The aroma of the plant is delicate—tones of anise, parsley, and celery—while the scent of the seeds is reminiscent of anise and caraway.) Dill later spread north through Europe to the British Isles and Scandanavia where leaves were used to add flavor to fish dishes and the seeds were used to preserve pickles as well as to flavor breads, sauces, and salads. Dill was brought to
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 11:53:53 +0000
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