Culinary Herbs

Generally speaking, green herbs are better when they're fresh. A few favorites do pretty well as dried herbs, however. You can buy many dried herbs online. Buying online has several advantages. You can buy in bulk, which is great if you cook with a lot of a particular herb. Since you are getting them directly from the merchant, your herbs probably haven't been sitting on the shelt in the grocery store for a year or more and will have better flavor. You can also find a greater variety of herbs and spices online; most grocery stores have a limited selection of herbs and may not carry more exotic ones like epazote  or hyssop.  While there are a number of herbs that are good dried, if you're very fond of fresh herbs you should head on over to the Herbs area of the Gardening section and try growing a few for yourself! Most herbs are happy in a sunny window and will readily grow indoors year-round.

Basil - Lemon Grass

Basil  One of the best herbs when fresh, dried basil  loses much of its flavor; however, jars or tubes of basil paste  can be handy to have on hand.	Bay Leaf  The dried leaves of the sweet laurel, bay leaves  add a delicate flavor to soups, stocks and stews. Their flavor is actually better when dried.	Chives  Chives  have a similar flavor to scallions  but lighter and more delicate. Freeze-dried chives  are almost as good as fresh.	Dill  (Dillweed ) Dried dill leaves,  sometimes sold as dillweed,  are almost as flavorful as fresh and are a tasty addition to many soups.	Epazote  Epazote  is a Mexican herb that is traditionally added to bean dishes, both to flavor the dish and for its supposed antiflatulent properties.

Long Coriander  Long coriander,  or culantro,  is a relative of the more familiar cilantro. Unlike cilantro, however, the leaves of long coriander retain much of their flavor when dried.	Hyssop  Hyssop  has a strong flavor, similar to a bitter mint, and can be used dry as well as fresh. It is also used in some tea blends to ease nasal congestion.	Lavender  Lavender flowers  are often used on their own for their spicy fragrance. They can be added to teas.  Lavender is also a key component of herbes de Provence.	Lemon Balm  Lemon balm  adds a fresh, citrusy flavor to teas, sweets and ice cream. It can be used both fresh and dried.	Lemon Grass  Lemon grass  can be used fresh, dried  or even powdered.  It adds a citrus flavor to foods and is particularly popular in Thai cooking.

Marjoram - Thyme

Marjoram  Marjoram  is a popular herb in many European cuisines. It can be used both fresh and dried.	Mint  Mint,  especially peppermint,  is a popular herb both for its cooling flavor and its medicinal benefits; mint tea  is a great way to settle a stomach.	Oregano  Oregano  is used in Italian and Greek cuisines, and has a distinctive flavor whether used fresh or dried.	Rosemary  Highly aromatic rosemary  is equally good fresh and dried; it can sometimes be found as part of a dried herbal wreath.

Sage  Sage  is a popular herb in many European cuisines. It is an important flavor in breadcrumb stuffings  and has autumnal connotations. Delicious with pumpkin ravioli.	Savory  Savory  is a delicate herb, often used to flavor beans in European cuisines.	Tarragon  Tarragon 's flavor, which is reminiscent of anise and green herbs, is well suited to lighter foods such as eggs and fish. It is also known as "dragon herb."	Thyme  Thyme  is used in the cuisines of the Mediterranean, from France to Turkey. It retains its flavor well when dried

Related Guides

Indoor Herb Gardens	Spices	Hydroponic Vegetable Gardening	Herb Seeds	Spice Racks

International Resources

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DE: Küchenkräuter