Our Top Herbs

18 Nov, 2021

Growing herbs is a great way to add bursts of flavour to your meals. It's an easy way to get access to large quantities of fresh herbs that would otherwise be expensive or hard to find, and a great resource if you want to get creative in the kitchen. Here are our top herb picks.

Basil

Basil is a wonderful aromatic herb to grow in the summer months. It can be used fresh or cooked and is commonly associated with Italian cuisine and tomatoes. However, with many varieties, available offering wonderful variations to the basil flavour profile, it is well worth making a space in the garden for more than one type of basil.

Parsley

Parsley is a herb, well-known for its strong taste and scent, parsley can be grown in vege gardens an added to an array of dishes to add more flavour. Add parsley to grilled/roasted vegetables, green salads, stews, soups, fish/meat meals, pasta, grain dishes or on top of eggs as a garnish.

Coriander

Loved by most, coriander isn't for everyone - as it has been proved that some people's tastebuds distinguish it differently and can be unpleasant instead! Despite this, coriander is one of New Zealand's favourite herbs, best used in Indian cooking, salads, stir-fries, and to add freshness to meat and savoury dishes.

Mint

Delicious, tasty, and refreshing, and incredibly easy to grow. Though be for you go out and get common mint, it'd be worth checking out some of the other interesting varieties on offer, including Wild Mint, Mint Basil, Vietnamese Mint, and Chocolate Mint.

Thyme

Thyme is a great versatile herb that can be used in a variety of dishes. Thyme can be used fresh or dried, and works well in soups, roasted vegetables, pasta, sauces, pizzas and more! We have a fairly wide range of thymes in-store, though availability can vary, that usually includes: common, lemon, lemon variegated, silver and woolly.

Oregano

Another Mediterranean favourite, oregano is fabulous with grilled vegetables, in tomato dishes and sauces, with cheeses and on pizza. Choose the Greek variety for strongest taste. Easy to dry for future use. Historically, the Greeks and Romans used it as a disinfectant, to ward off spirits and as a shampoo for its scent.

Chives

Delicious, versatile and nutritious, and for a slight twist try growing garlic chives. This perennial herb should last for years. Chives grow into small clumps, and can be harvested regularly all year round, and taste great in a wide range of situations, and are especially good in salads. Chives work great as a companion plant, repelling a variety of pests and attracting bees and other beneficial insects.

Chervil

This delicious herb is a mainstay of french cuisine. The delicate flavour of chervil has a faint taste of aniseed and is delicious with eggs, seafood (especially scallops), chicken and when added as a garnish to soups, stews and sauces. For best results and a full flavour add last minute to your dish.

Sage

This versatile herb can be used fresh, dried or ground in cooking and in herbal medicines. Considered a natural antiseptic, preservative and believed to help with regulating body temperature, it also tastes great in a wide array of settings. Most commonly used in soups, stews and stuffing, it can also be fried to make a delicious tasty treat.

Fennel

This aromatic and flavourful member of the carrot family has been used for centuries the world over. The herb itself has a mild, sweet, aniseed-like flavour - like a less intense version of star anise. And it not only tastes great, but also looks great, and if left, it'll produce attractive flowers that are great for attracting a whole host of beneficial insects into your garden.

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