Herbs

Herbs are the leaves, flowers and sometimes stems of a group of aromatic non-woody plants used in cooking. The word is derived from the latin herba, which means grass. Culinary herbs are used to impart an aromatic quality to food, either individually or in a mixture. The flavour comes from the oil stored in the leaves, which is released when the herb is crushed, chopped or heated. Particular herbs suit different styles of cooking and every cuisine has its favourites — the Middle East and Greece favour oregano, mint and dill; Thai cuisine uses coriander and lemongrass; in Italy, basil, parsley and oregano are commonly used; and in France, tarragon, chervil and fennel.