Basil, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Rosella, Rosemary and Scented Geranium

This chapter deals with six spices, namely, Basil, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Rosella, Rosemary and Scented Geranium. Basil is the most widely used aromatic herb, while chamomile is very popular in the Western world, not only as a spice but also as a herbal medicine. Lemon balm is a common ingredient in most subtemperate and temperate regions, while rosella is a tropical spice widely used in Africa and Asia. Apart from the use as an acidulent, a contributor of sourness to curries, rosella is also an important source of red food color and is regarded as a herbal medicine useful in obesity management. Rosemary is a famous aromatic herb used by mankind from ancient times, and it is a memory enhancing herb in the Western herbal medicine system. It is also associated with much romantic traditions (rosemary is for remembrance…), and now it is an aromatic herb used almost routinely in the Western world. Scented geranium is a fascinating aromatic herb that comes in different aromas of a mind-capturing nature; some are widely used for flavoring butter, cakes, cheese, etc. The rose-scented geranium, which is dealt with in this chapter, is perhaps the best known. The leaves of this plant give out a mesmerizing aroma that its oil finds wide use in aromatherapy and beauty care, apart from its use as an aroma ingredient in a variety of food items. This chapter looks at the above spices briefly, but holistically discussing their taxonomy, botany, chemistry, functional properties, medicinal uses, culinary uses, and safety issues.