[Mercola]: Sage has been revered for centuries for its medicinal and culinary uses. The botanical name comes from the Latin word "salvere," meaning "to be saved."
A member of the mint family of plants and closely related to rosemary, its warm and musky essence is essential for making the fragrant dressing that goes so well with turkey.
A perennial plant growing 1 to 2 feet high, sage produces small, grey-green and deeply veined leaves, with the intensity of the flavor growing stronger as the plant ages.
Sage comes in various forms: Russian sage is known for its lavender-purple flowers and ornamental applications, while the common sage is regarded for its pungent aroma that is widely used in cooking.
Another popular sage variant used in cooking is pineapple sage, which bears bright red flowers and a sweet fragrance, which is good for teas.
Golden sage has variegated leaves, and purple sage indicates the color of leaf and flower it produces. Tricolor is just that, with white, purple and green variegated leaves. Three-lobed sage denotes three leaves to a stem...read more>>>