Organic borage

Seeds:  40  / Botanical name:  Borago officinalis

A flavorful salad ingredient and an attractive decoration for cool summer drinks

The robust borage, with its star-shaped blue flowers, is an important element of classic cottage gardens. This perennial thrives in sunny locations and can grow into stately plants up to one meter tall. The decorative, bright blue star-shaped flowers are also a major attraction for bees, hence its common name, "bee pasture." If you prefer to grow your borage in a pot, choose a tall one to ensure the long taproot with its prominent runners isn't constricted.

Natural habitat:  Borage is native to the Mediterranean region but is now cultivated in gardens throughout Central Europe.

In the kitchen:  Harvest the leaves when they are young and tender, and the flowers when they are fully open. The young leaves can be easily chopped for salads and have a subtle cucumber aroma. They are also wonderful in sauces and with fish dishes. Borage is perhaps best known for its use alongside six other herbs in the classic Frankfurt green sauce. The flowers make a colorful garnish. Simply grasp the black stamen in the center of the flower and gently lift the bloom from the calyx. Frozen in an ice cube tray lightly covered with water, the blossoms make a beautiful floating decoration for summer drinks. They can also be crystallized and used to decorate cakes. To do this, pick the blossom on a dry day. Lightly whisk an egg white until frothy and dip the blossom in the egg white, then in granulated sugar. Carefully place them on a tray lined with greaseproof paper and dry them either in a slightly warm oven with the door ajar for a few hours or in a dry, warm place for 24-48 hours. Until ready to use, you can store the decorative blossoms in an airtight container.