Rosemary is a beautifully fragrant herb that can be used dried or fresh and is a great complement for fish, meat, vegetables, soups and stews. The leaves can also be used to make oils and teas.
Rosemary is an evergreen shrub in the sage family with long needles that look similar to hemlock leaves. Rosemary originates from the Mediterranean and Asian regions, but is hardy enough to be grown in colder climates. The earliest reference to rosemary dates to a cuneiform tablet from 5,000 BCE, and rosemary was used in Ancient Egyptian burials. Rosemary became naturalized in China around 220 BC, and went to Europe shortly after, where it was brought to North America by European settlers in the 17th century. It spread to South America and the rest of the world after that.
