Benefits of the burnet herb
Benefits of the burnet herb
Overview of burnet.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
Transcript
A long-forgotten herb that is today making something of a comeback - salad or garden burnet. Not to be confused with burnet saxifrage which is similar in appearance, but is actually an entirely different species. The plant with the small leaves manages to survive almost anywhere. It's found a home from Scandinavia to Northern Africa and all the way to Afghanistan.
In the Middle Ages, burnet was very popular, as it was considered a cure for the plague and believed to strengthen heart, bladder and kidneys. But then the herb fell into obscurity. In fact, burnet serves to check bleeding, is rich in vitamins and stimulates the appetite. Two or three cups of burnet tea a day fire up the digestive system, relieve liver and bile ailments and prevent gum inflammation. The leaves should steep in hot water for up to 10 minutes. When applied externally, the tea also soothes sunburned or inflamed skin.
A crisp salad is the perfect partner for burnet. Harvested before flowering, young leaves have the most intense flavor. The taste is reminiscent of fresh cucumber. Chopped, the leaves are a splendid addition to curd cheese spreads, salad dressings, herb butter and cheese. Burnet and some fellow herbs go to make up the German grüne Soße, or green sauce. It also plays a part in the making of another popular condiment, herb vinegar, along with tarragon, onion, thyme, garlic and borage. Wild herbs, fried bread and a boiled egg constitute a salad that will not only please the palate, but also the eye - enjoy.
The salad burnet prefers to grow in meadows. The more sun, the fuller the flavor. When cultivated, dry, chalky and humus-rich soil will help it grow vigorously. The simple rule is if the soil layer is thin, the herb will stay small. If it is thick, burnet will seize the opportunity and reach greater heights of up to a meter. April is a good time for sowing. But beware, once the plant feels comfortable, it can spread quickly. In that case, there are only two solutions, regular removal of the blooms or a heavily burnet-based diet.
Those who treasure the cucumber-like flavor of the burnet, should time their harvest carefully. After a downpour, its aroma is especially strong. The small red flowers are also edible and have given the plant a rather ferocious nickname, dragon's blood.
In the Middle Ages, burnet was very popular, as it was considered a cure for the plague and believed to strengthen heart, bladder and kidneys. But then the herb fell into obscurity. In fact, burnet serves to check bleeding, is rich in vitamins and stimulates the appetite. Two or three cups of burnet tea a day fire up the digestive system, relieve liver and bile ailments and prevent gum inflammation. The leaves should steep in hot water for up to 10 minutes. When applied externally, the tea also soothes sunburned or inflamed skin.
A crisp salad is the perfect partner for burnet. Harvested before flowering, young leaves have the most intense flavor. The taste is reminiscent of fresh cucumber. Chopped, the leaves are a splendid addition to curd cheese spreads, salad dressings, herb butter and cheese. Burnet and some fellow herbs go to make up the German grüne Soße, or green sauce. It also plays a part in the making of another popular condiment, herb vinegar, along with tarragon, onion, thyme, garlic and borage. Wild herbs, fried bread and a boiled egg constitute a salad that will not only please the palate, but also the eye - enjoy.
The salad burnet prefers to grow in meadows. The more sun, the fuller the flavor. When cultivated, dry, chalky and humus-rich soil will help it grow vigorously. The simple rule is if the soil layer is thin, the herb will stay small. If it is thick, burnet will seize the opportunity and reach greater heights of up to a meter. April is a good time for sowing. But beware, once the plant feels comfortable, it can spread quickly. In that case, there are only two solutions, regular removal of the blooms or a heavily burnet-based diet.
Those who treasure the cucumber-like flavor of the burnet, should time their harvest carefully. After a downpour, its aroma is especially strong. The small red flowers are also edible and have given the plant a rather ferocious nickname, dragon's blood.