Salvia or sage?

[shivvy]

Is salvia the same as sage? Can it be used for cooking in the same way sage can?
Thanks.

[Hawkwalk]

Salvia is the latin name and sage is the common name. There are many different types of sage. The herb that you would use to cook with is Salvia officinalis and the one you see as a bedding plant is Salvia splendens.

No point cooking with the ornamental ones as they wont give you the flavour.

[shivvy]

Thanks Hawkwalk.
I don't have the label for the one that I bought but it has much much bigger leaves that my previous culinary one. I haven't used it yet but it seems quite fragrant (ie by touching the leaves).
I suppose I just want to know if it is definitely safe to eat?!!

[Hawkwalk]

many of them have very fragrant leaves but dont taste very nice. As far as I know they are not harmful but why are you so keen to eat it?

[shivvy]

I am keen to eat it because I use a lot of fresh herbs in my cooking. My last plant died and this one looks different ie the leaves being much larger.
You sound surprised that I want to cook with it? Why?

[Ice.Maiden]

So long as it's not salvia divinorum - then go ahead.

[pastafreak]

I love fresh sage...lovely stuff

[shivvy]

Ice - i put salvia divinorum into google images and it doesnt look too similar to mine. What would happen if it was eaten?

pasta - I lova all fresh herbs - thats why I was a bit confused why Hawkwalk was wondering why i would eat it!

[Ice.Maiden]

Well I'm sure I wouldn't know about these things shivvy! But I've seen what happens if you smoke it. : )

[shivvy]

Interesting!!!!

[pastafreak]

you can SMOKE sage???

[Ice.Maiden]

Yes, it goes into harmless smoking mixtures - but the one I'm on about.....

[Hawkwalk]

I was wondering why you want to eat it because there are so many type of salvia that are ornamental and not meant to be eaten. They are not like the sage you cook with and unless you are sure which one you have then you may get a shock when you taste your stuffing!!

I would suggest you buy one that has a label so you know it is a culinery type.

[a-nigma]

There is a very large family of salvias. The type you can eat has tough, leathery, rough leaves and smells like sage.
Several salvias have amazingly scented leaves BUT they are NOT edible.
The two edible types are a grey leafed type and a greeny leaf type which is commoner.
If you really aren't sure - wait for flowering. The common sage has blue flowers clustering vertically up a spike.
Google sage and images to see what I mean.

[shivvy]

Ah - that is very helpful a-nigma. I suppose I could expect it to flower sometime over the summer?