Herb

Hyssopus officinalis

S tier

Hyssopus officinalis is true garden hyssop—a woody-based perennial mint-family herb with spiked flowers and leaves that taste camphoraceous, minty-bitter, and slightly medicinal. Biblical and medieval European references made the plant culturally heavy; modern cooks use it sparingly in bean dishes, fruit preparations, and herbal liqueurs. Bees adore the blooms. Chop young leaves into small amounts for stews and roast meats; dry flowering tops for tisanes. Strong flavour turns soapy-bitter if dumped like parsley. Distinct from anise hyssop (Agastache), which is sweeter and often mis-sold under the hyssop name.