Organic Sage Dried Standard Jar - 15g, Steenbergs details and description

Steenbergs Organic Sage is a classic organic sage herb from Turkey.  Organic sage has one of the richest and most distinctive flavours of all the herbs.  Organic sage is perfect for a simple baked chicken or pork, just sprinkle Steenbergs organic sage with lemon juice or sea salt and organic pepper. Organic sage's rich strength lends itself well to many dishes, such as beef roasts, pork chops and game dishes like venison, duck and goose. Leftover turkey or chicken can be pepped up with a bit of organic sage and of course it is still a favourite used with onion, bread and other seasonings such as a stuffing in roasts. It also works really well with butternut squash. Also one of the herbs we like to add to homemade chips ("fried" in the oven with loads of olive oil, perfect salt and one herb either sage, rosemary or thyme).

Sage is a native of the north Mediterranean, thriving in warm, dry soils.  Sage is a hardy, erect perennial herb that grows to about 90cm high (35 inches) with wiry, green and purple-hued stems.  Sage leaves are around 8cm long (3.25 inches) and 12mm (0.5 inch) wide.  Sage leaves are wide, gray-green, rough and downy on the top of the leaves, while the underside is deeply veined and filigreed.  Sage flowers are purple, lipped flowers.  Sage is very pungent with a flavour that is herbaceous, savoury and astringent.  There are many types of sage but most sage is Salvia officinalis or Salvia triloba, with the latter popular amongst food manufacturers due to its less woody nature; it is best to replant sage every three years as it will become too woody.  Sage leaves are best picked before the plants flower, then they should be hung in dark, well-aired store rooms before being rubbed from the stems.  For more on sage try Wikipedia.

Sage has a very direct astringency which some people do not like.  However, sage is valuable for the cook as it cuts down the richness and fattiness of meats, so works very well with pork, hence its used in sausages and in stuffing mixes.  Sage and onion stuffing is a mainstay of British roast chicken dishes and American Thanksgiving turkey, while saltimbocca use fresh sage leaves.  Generally, sage combines well with apples, pulses, onions and tomatoes, or blended into bay, garlic, ginger, marjoram, paprika, parsley and thyme.  For some cooking inspiration, try Steenbergs recipes, Allrecipes or the BBC. 

Organic sage is part of Steenbergs range of over 400 organic spices, seasonings, peppers, herbs, loose leaf teas and organic baking extracts and flower waters.  For your local Steenbergs' stockists, click on "Where to see us", call 01765 640088 or email enquiries@steenbergs.co.uk.