How to grow and cook with herbs successfully

The use of herbs for medicine and cooking has a long and exceptionally vigorous tradition dating back over 60,000 years. This book is a celebration of herbs - the inspiration for so many forms of enjoyment - whether it be cooking, gardening, medicinal cures, folklore or history.

Following a brief introduction to the history of the use of herbs throughout history, a gardening section examines all the options available to the novice or experienced gardener - whether you want to grow plants in a traditional knot garden, a small patch at the back of the house, or in pots and kitchen window boxes to be plundered at will. Detailed information is included on propagation, care and maintenance and garden planning.

Once you have grown them, a chapter on using herbs looks at the options available to you throughout the home - whether you want to cook with them or use them in cosmetics and home remedies.

The largest section of the book is devoted to a stunning herb directory featuring 70 of the most commonly used herbs - each of which is beautifully photographed - with detailed descriptions of their history and appearances. The entries range from the most popular culinary herbs and spices such as coriander, cinnamon, sage and rosemary to the less well-known plants like alexanders, linden, cassia and asafoetida. The history of each herb is related in detail with description of its traditional uses in cooking, medicine or cosmetics, notes on cultivation and medicinal, cosmetic or culinary recipes where appropriate.

Chapter Breakdown

1. The History of Herbs
2. Growing Your Own
3. Practical Uses
4. Herb Directory