Herb
Borage
Borage is a bristly herb with cucumber-flavoured leaves and vivid blue star flowers. Flowers ice drinks, garnish salads, and crystallise for desserts; young leaves season soups and cold sauces. Mature leaves are coarse and usually chopped finely or cooked. Borage is a classic companion in European cottage gardens and Pimm's-style cups.
Also known as: Borretsch, Bourrache, Borragine
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Breeds, cuts & preparations
Variety
AlbaBlue BorageBorago officinalisCommon BorageVariegated BorageWhite Borage
Source
HydroponicIndoor FarmedOutdoor FarmedWild
Provenance
BiodynamicFair TradeGreenhouse GrownHeirloomHeritage SeedLocally GrownNon-GMOOpen PollinatedOrganicPesticide FreeRegenerativeSeasonal
Preparation
BruisedChilledChoppedCrackedDriedFreeze DriedFreshFrozenGroundInfusedMincedPastePickledPowderRubbedSeededToastedTornWhole
CommonCharacteristic
CoolingCucumberDelicateFloralFreshGreenHerbaceousMild
History
IT
Borage was known in the Mediterranean as a cooling culinary and medicinal plant.
GB
English gardens grew borage for claret cups, salads, and traditional cordials.
Borage flowers became a standard garnish for summer drinks across northern Europe.
Borage remained a cottage-garden herb while commercial salad mixes rarely included it.