Marjoram Origins

This is a small plant found in the eastern Mediterranean countries, southern Europe and north Africa.

Marjoram Essential oil

Steam distillation of the flowers and leaves produces an oil that ranges in colour from pale yellow to rich amber. It has a warm, spicy aroma.

Marjoram Most common uses

• calms and regulates the nervous system
• good for insomnia, depression and anxiety
• relieves aching limbs and rheumatic conditions
• helps nervous stomach and digestion Read the rest of this entry »

Although it is doubtful whether many of the herbs so devotedly grown by herb gardeners are ever used there is no doubt that cooking would be a dull thing without the classic bouquet garni herbs. These and many others are easily raised in a fairly sunny window box and have the edge for immediate accessibility over those grown in the garden. All I would suggest is that you curb your enthusiasm for exotica such as alecost—tall, untidy, invasive and of precious little culinary value—or angelica—a six-footer whose stems can only with difficulty be candied–and use window box space to produce more useful and usable herbs. Read the rest of this entry »