Rosemary has been used throughout time and over dozens of cultures as a culinary herb, a herbal remedy for many ailments, and a memory charm. Students in ancient Greece would place sprigs of rosemary in their hair while studying because they thought that rosemary stimulates and strengthens memory. In England, rosemary’s ability to fortify the memory earned it a spot as a symbol of fidelity and thus became an integral part of wedding celebrations and in the Middle Ages, it was used to help lovers not to forget each other and became a charm for enduring love.

Rosemary has also been used as a symbol of remembrance during war commemorations and at funerals, with a sprig being tossed into the graves as a sign that the deceased would not be forgotten. This tradition dates all the way back to ancient Egypt where the herb was buried with the pharaohs.

Best Way to Choose and Store

To get the freshest Rosemary, make sure to look for sprigs that look vibrant and are a deep sage color. Avoid any springs that have dark spots or have a yellow coloration.

Always store fresh rosemary in the fridge, either in its original package or wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel. It will say fresh for up to 5 days. If you plan on freezing it, place either the whole or chopped rosemary in an airtight container. My favorite way to store fresh herbs in the freezer is to put the rosemary, or any herb, in an ice cube tray and cover it with your favorite stock or oil. I personally like to use organic olive oil.

Always store dried rosemary in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark, dry place.  It will keep fresh for 6 months.

Nutrition

Rosemary is an amazing source of antioxidant phytonutrients, which include flavonoids and the phenolic compounds carnosol, rosmanol, and rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinic acid has been shown to modulate the production of inflammatory molecules, helping reduce inflammation. Rosemary has also been found to enhance the action of liver enzymes that are responsible for metabolizing and detoxing chemicals. Research has found that the historical claims of rosemary’s memory stimulation abilities to be accurate.  Inhalation of rosemary’s volatile oils, the ones that give it its fragrance, help enhance recall and increase alertness.

Energetics

Rosemary is warm in temperature and sweet, acrid, astringent, and slightly bitter in flavor. Its ability to promote blood flow helps to regulate blood pressure, reduce muscle spasms, promote menses, and promotes healing. Its warm acridness helps to disperse wind-cold, which means that it can help in the treatment of colds, flu, asthma, sore throat, and coughing, as well as help to modulate the immune system to prevent illness. Rosemary is especially good at helping treat a cough with lots of mucus as its sweet flavor helps to aid in digestion to target the creation of phlegm at its source, while its astringent flavor helps to resolve stored phlegm and stop coughing. Its warming nature is also tied to its ability to nourish Yang, which is why it is so good at improving memory and helping to increase mental clarity.

Rosemary-&-Garlic-Basted Sirloin Steak

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless top sirloin steak, trimmed

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided

• ½ teaspoon ground pepper, divided

• 4 medium cloves garlic, minced

• 2 medium shallots, sliced lengthwise

• 1 ½ tablespoons butter

• 1 sprig fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish

Directions

• Let steak stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels. Brush with oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add steak and cook for 1 minute. Add garlic, shallots, butter and rosemary; cook, tilting the pan slightly to pool the butter and drippings on one side, for 1 minute. Use a spoon to baste the steak with the butter mixture. Flip the steak and cook, basting occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer registers 125 degrees F for medium-rare, 2 minutes more. Transfer the steak to a clean cutting board and top with the shallots, garlic and rosemary. Cover loosely with foil; let stand for 10 minutes.

• Discard the rosemary sprig. Thinly slice the steak against the grain and transfer to a serving platter. Spoon drippings from the pan and cutting board over the steak. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper and garnish with more rosemary, if desired.

Source

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/281077/rosemary-garlic-basted-sirloin-steak/

https://www.whiterabbitinstituteofhealing.com/herbs/rosemary/

Mateljan, George. The World’s Healthiest Foods: Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating. George Mateljan Foundation: Seattle, 2007. Print.