Rosemary, scientifically known as Rosmarinus officinalis, is a woody, perennial herb that is native to the Mediterranean region. It grows to a height of 2 meters, with leaves as short as 2.5 cm. Adorned with fragrant and evergreen, needle-like leaves; the herb is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae. The term 'rosemary' has been derived from the Latin word 'rosmarinus', which literally means "dew of the sea". The exotic, leafy herb is associated with a number of benefits. Right from an upset stomach to digestive disorders to headaches, rosemary is used to treat a number of ailments.
Due to its pungent and lingering aroma, rosemary is used to add flavor to a variety of unusual foods as well as everyday meat dishes, eggs and vegetables. Freshly chopped rosemary leaves are used to impart flavor to jams, sweet sauces and herb butter. They are also used in biscuits, cheese, soups and stew. One of the added advantages of consuming rosemary is that the herb is good for digestion and works to refresh the body and the mind. Rosemary tea and wine are also very famous in different regions of the world. Through the following lines, we will tell you how to dry rosemary properly.
Drying Fresh Rosemary Quickly
Things Needed
- Fresh Rosemary
- Garden Shears
- Water
- Cotton Kitchen String
- Scissors
- Plastic Clothing Hanger
- Glass Jar
Instructions
- First of all, you need to cut out sections of rosemary that are 5 to 6 inches in length. One bunch of rosemary will have eight lengths bundled together. Therefore, cut as many pieces as are required.
- Rinse rosemary stems with clean water, to ensure that the leaves are free of insects and dust particles.
- Make bunches of the herb, making sure that there are eight lengths in each of the bunch.
- Take a cotton cloth and cut 12-inch of string for each of the rosemary bundle.
- Hold eight stems of rosemary together. Tie one end of the bunch with the cotton string, with a knot similar to the one used for tying shoelaces.
- Repeat the above step for each one of the rosemary bundles that you want to dry.
- Take a clean, plastic clothing hanger and hang each bunch of rosemary over it, with the extra string or by draping it half over the hanger.
- Place the hanger in a dark place, like a closet, while making sure not to overcrowd it and crush the herbs.
- Let the rosemary stems stay in the closet for 4 weeks.
- Remove the hanger from the closet and place it on a flat surface.
- Unfasten each of the rosemary bunches, discarding away the cotton string.
- Remove the rosemary leaves from the stem, by pulling them off in the opposite direction of their growth.
- Discard the stem and put the rosemary leaves in an airtight jar, to be used later on. Dried rosemary leaves have a brownish-green color.