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Looking like a small sprig from an evergreen tree the wonderful smell and assertively pine-like fragrance and pungent flavor of rosemary goes a long way to flavor to chicken, lamb, pork, salmon and tuna dishes as well as many soups and sauces. As an evergreen, rosemary is available throughout the year.
Rosemary grows on a small evergreen shrub belonging to the Labiatae family that is related to mint. Its leaves look like flat pine-tree needles, deep green in color on top while silver-white on their underside. Its memorable flavor and unique health benefits makes it an indispensable herb for every kitchen.
The wonderful smell of rosemary is often associated with good food and great times. But it could just as easily be associated with good health. Rosemary contains substances that are useful for stimulating the immune system, increasing circulation, and improving digestion. Rosemary also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may make it useful for reducing the severity of asthma attacks. In addition, rosemary has been shown to increase the blood flow to the head and brain, improving concentration. So, the next time you enhance the flavor of some special dish with rosemary, congratulate yourself for a wise as well as delicious choice.
It is not surprising that the taste and aroma of the herb rosemary, historically used for strengthening the memory, is unforgettable. Rosemary has a unique pine-like fragrant flavor that is balanced by a rich pungency, a combination that evokes both the forest and the sea. Its memorable flavor and unique health benefits makes it an indispensable herb for every kitchen.
Rosemary grows on a small evergreen shrub belonging to the Labiatae family that is related to mint. Its leaves look like flat pine-tree needles, deep green in color on top while silver-white on their underside.
Although rosemary is native to the Mediterranean, it now grows throughout much of the temperate regions in Europe and America. Rosemary has been a prized seasoning and natural medicine for millennia. Part of rosemary's popularity came from the widespread belief that rosemary stimulated and strengthened the memory, a quality for which it is still traditionally used. In ancient Greece, students would place rosemary sprigs in their hair when studying for exams, and mourners would also throw the fragrant herb into the grave of the deceased as a symbol of remembrance. In olde England, rosemary's ability to fortify the memory transformed it into a symbol of fidelity, and it played an important role in the costumes, decorations and gifts used at weddings. Rosemary oil was first extracted in the 14th century, after which it was used to make Queen of Hungary water, a very popular cosmetic used at that time. In the 16th and 17th centuries, rosemary became popular as a digestive aid in apothecaries. Recently, as modern research focuses on the beneficial active components in rosemary, our appreciation for this herb's therapeutic as well as culinary value has been renewed.
Whenever possible, choose fresh rosemary over the dried form of the herb since it is far superior in flavor. The springs of fresh rosemary should look vibrantly fresh and should be deep sage green in color, and free from yellow or dark spots.
Even through dried herbs and spices are widely available in supermarkets, explore the local spice stores in your area. Oftentimes, these stores feature an expansion selection of dried herbs and spices that are of superior quality and freshness to those offered in regular markets. Just like with other dried herbs, when purchasing dried rosemary, try to select organically grown herbs since this will give you more assurance that the herbs contain no pesticide residues and have not been irradiated (among other potential adverse effects, irradiating rosemary may lead to a significant decrease in its carotenoid content.)
Fresh rosemary should be stored in the refrigerator either in its original packaging or wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel. You can also place the rosemary sprigs in ice cube trays covered with either water or stock that can be added when preparing soups or stews. Dried rosemary should be kept in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place where it will keep fresh for about six months.
Quickly rinse rosemary under cool running water and pat dry. Most recipes call for rosemary leaves, which can be easily removed from the stem. Alternatively, you can add the whole sprig to season soups, stews and meat dishes, then simply remove it before serving.
For some of our favorite recipes, click Recipes.
Rosemary is a good source of vitamin A (in the form of provitamin A carotenoid phytonutrients).
Rosemary, fresh
2.00 TBS 4.20 grams
Calories: 6
GI: very low |
||||
Nutrient | Amount | DRI/DV (%) |
Nutrient Density |
World's Healthiest Foods Rating |
---|
World's Healthiest Foods Rating |
Rule |
---|---|
excellent | DRI/DV>=75% OR Density>=7.6 AND DRI/DV>=10% |
very good | DRI/DV>=50% OR Density>=3.4 AND DRI/DV>=5% |
good | DRI/DV>=25% OR Density>=1.5 AND DRI/DV>=2.5% |
Rosemary, fresh (Note: "--" indicates data unavailable) |
||
2.00 TBS (4.20 g) |
GI: very low | |
BASIC MACRONUTRIENTS AND CALORIES | ||
---|---|---|
nutrient | amount | DRI/DV (%) |
Protein | 0.14 g | 0 |
Carbohydrates | 0.87 g | 0 |
Fat - total | 0.25 g | 0 |
Dietary Fiber | 0.59 g | 2 |
Calories | 5.50 | 0 |
MACRONUTRIENT AND CALORIE DETAIL | ||
nutrient | amount | DRI/DV (%) |
Carbohydrate: | ||
Starch | -- g | |
Total Sugars | -- g | |
Monosaccharides | -- g | |
Fructose | -- g | |
Glucose | -- g | |
Galactose | -- g | |
Disaccharides | -- g | |
Lactose | -- g | |
Maltose | -- g | |
Sucrose | -- g | |
Soluble Fiber | -- g | |
Insoluble Fiber | -- g | |
Other Carbohydrates | -- g | |
Fat: | ||
Monounsaturated Fat | 0.05 g | |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.04 g | |
Saturated Fat | 0.12 g | |
Trans Fat | 0.00 g | |
Calories from Fat | 2.22 | |
Calories from Saturated Fat | 1.07 | |
Calories from Trans Fat | 0.00 | |
Cholesterol | 0.00 mg | |
Water | 2.85 g | |
MICRONUTRIENTS | ||
nutrient | amount | DRI/DV (%) |
Vitamins | ||
Water-Soluble Vitamins | ||
B-Complex Vitamins | ||
Vitamin B1 | 0.00 mg | 0 |
Vitamin B2 | 0.01 mg | 1 |
Vitamin B3 | 0.04 mg | 0 |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin Equivalents) | 0.07 mg | |
Vitamin B6 | 0.01 mg | 1 |
Vitamin B12 | 0.00 mcg | 0 |
Biotin | -- mcg | -- |
Choline | -- mg | -- |
Folate | 4.58 mcg | 1 |
Folate (DFE) | 4.58 mcg | |
Folate (food) | 4.58 mcg | |
Pantothenic Acid | 0.03 mg | 1 |
Vitamin C | 0.92 mg | 1 |
Fat-Soluble Vitamins | ||
Vitamin A (Retinoids and Carotenoids) | ||
Vitamin A International Units (IU) | 122.81 IU | |
Vitamin A mcg Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE) | 6.14 mcg (RAE) | 1 |
Vitamin A mcg Retinol Equivalents (RE) | 12.28 mcg (RE) | |
Retinol mcg Retinol Equivalents (RE) | 0.00 mcg (RE) | |
Carotenoid mcg Retinol Equivalents (RE) | 12.28 mcg (RE) | |
Alpha-Carotene | -- mcg | |
Beta-Carotene | -- mcg | |
Beta-Carotene Equivalents | 73.68 mcg | |
Cryptoxanthin | -- mcg | |
Lutein and Zeaxanthin | -- mcg | |
Lycopene | -- mcg | |
Vitamin D | ||
Vitamin D International Units (IU) | 0.00 IU | 0 |
Vitamin D mcg | 0.00 mcg | |
Vitamin E | ||
Vitamin E mg Alpha-Tocopherol Equivalents (ATE) | -- mg (ATE) | -- |
Vitamin E International Units (IU) | -- IU | |
Vitamin E mg | -- mg | |
Vitamin K | -- mcg | -- |
Minerals | ||
nutrient | amount | DRI/DV (%) |
Boron | -- mcg | |
Calcium | 13.31 mg | 1 |
Chloride | -- mg | |
Chromium | -- mcg | -- |
Copper | 0.01 mg | 1 |
Fluoride | -- mg | -- |
Iodine | -- mcg | -- |
Iron | 0.28 mg | 2 |
Magnesium | 3.82 mg | 1 |
Manganese | 0.04 mg | 2 |
Molybdenum | -- mcg | -- |
Phosphorus | 2.77 mg | 0 |
Potassium | 28.06 mg | 1 |
Selenium | -- mcg | -- |
Sodium | 1.09 mg | 0 |
Zinc | 0.04 mg | 0 |
INDIVIDUAL FATTY ACIDS | ||
nutrient | amount | DRI/DV (%) |
Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 0.02 g | 1 |
Omega-6 Fatty Acids | 0.02 g | |
Monounsaturated Fats | ||
14:1 Myristoleic | -- g | |
15:1 Pentadecenoic | -- g | |
16:1 Palmitol | 0.00 g | |
17:1 Heptadecenoic | -- g | |
18:1 Oleic | 0.04 g | |
20:1 Eicosenoic | 0.00 g | |
22:1 Erucic | -- g | |
24:1 Nervonic | -- g | |
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids | ||
18:2 Linoleic | 0.02 g | |
18:2 Conjugated Linoleic (CLA) | -- g | |
18:3 Linolenic | 0.02 g | |
18:4 Stearidonic | -- g | |
20:3 Eicosatrienoic | -- g | |
20:4 Arachidonic | -- g | |
20:5 Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) | -- g | |
22:5 Docosapentaenoic (DPA) | -- g | |
22:6 Docosahexaenoic (DHA) | -- g | |
Saturated Fatty Acids | ||
4:0 Butyric | -- g | |
6:0 Caproic | -- g | |
8:0 Caprylic | -- g | |
10:0 Capric | 0.00 g | |
12:0 Lauric | 0.00 g | |
14:0 Myristic | 0.01 g | |
15:0 Pentadecanoic | -- g | |
16:0 Palmitic | 0.08 g | |
17:0 Margaric | -- g | |
18:0 Stearic | 0.01 g | |
20:0 Arachidic | -- g | |
22:0 Behenate | -- g | |
24:0 Lignoceric | -- g | |
INDIVIDUAL AMINO ACIDS | ||
nutrient | amount | DRI/DV (%) |
Alanine | 0.01 g | |
Arginine | 0.01 g | |
Aspartic Acid | 0.02 g | |
Cysteine | 0.00 g | |
Glutamic Acid | 0.02 g | |
Glycine | 0.01 g | |
Histidine | 0.00 g | |
Isoleucine | 0.01 g | |
Leucine | 0.01 g | |
Lysine | 0.01 g | |
Methionine | 0.00 g | |
Phenylalanine | 0.01 g | |
Proline | 0.01 g | |
Serine | 0.01 g | |
Threonine | 0.01 g | |
Tryptophan | 0.00 g | |
Tyrosine | 0.00 g | |
Valine | 0.01 g | |
OTHER COMPONENTS | ||
nutrient | amount | DRI/DV (%) |
Ash | 0.10 g | |
Organic Acids (Total) | -- g | |
Acetic Acid | -- g | |
Citric Acid | -- g | |
Lactic Acid | -- g | |
Malic Acid | -- g | |
Taurine | -- g | |
Sugar Alcohols (Total) | -- g | |
Glycerol | -- g | |
Inositol | -- g | |
Mannitol | -- g | |
Sorbitol | -- g | |
Xylitol | -- g | |
Artificial Sweeteners (Total) | -- mg | |
Aspartame | -- mg | |
Saccharin | -- mg | |
Alcohol | 0.00 g | |
Caffeine | 0.00 mg | |
Note:The nutrient profiles provided in this website are derived from The Food Processor, Version 10.12.0, ESHA Research, Salem, Oregon, USA. Among the 50,000+ food items in the master database and 163 nutritional components per item, specific nutrient values were frequently missing from any particular food item. We chose the designation "--" to represent those nutrients for which no value was included in this version of the database. |
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