Every other weekwe getDown & Dirtywith our favorite unique seasonal fruits, vegetables, and more.
Today, fivethings you should know about theherb borage (besides the fact that it exists).
1. Borage is a boon for your garden.
Borage (pronounced like "lovage") isoften planted solely to attract bees, but is alsoa useful companion plant for tomatoes (as well as other types of produce like strawberries and squash). It’s an annual, though you might as well consider it aperennial: Borage isgreat at self-seeding, meaning it will reappear in your garden every year unless you take drastic measures to prevent it.
2. Borage flowers are one of the few edible plants that arenaturally blue.
Borage is a little gangly looking—"rustic" if we're being nice—but its flowers are stunners. The plant is also known as starflower (for obvious reasons) and while itsflowers are most often blue (3, below), they can also be white, pink (1, below), or purple (2, below). Their dazzling appearanceand sweet, honey-like flavor makes them astunning garnish floating on top of co*cktails, but you shouldn'tlimit yourself to drinks. Borage flowers can adorn everything from salads to potatoes, and they can also be candied or frozen into ice cubes.
3. The leaves are fuzzy but edible.
Borage belongs to the forget-me-not family (properly known asBoraginaceae), most members of which have hairy leaves (4, below). Borage is no exception, but younger leaves are less furry and perfectly palatable in raw applications—like strewn in green salads or panzanella. The leaveshave a pleasant herbal, cucumber-like flavor and, like the flowers, make a great garnish for co*cktails—especially a Pimm's Cup.
4. More mature leaves are best cooked—heat will destroy the fine hairs.
Use borage as you would spinach: Try adding leaves to soups and stews near the end of cooking or using them in a ravioli filling. If you have large quantities of borage, use it as the base of a dish, like creamed greens, green sauces(like chimichurri), or borage soup.
5. Borage has medicinal value, too.
Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbsnotes that Pliny the Elderconsidered borage to be an antidepressant and that Celtic warriors drank borage-flavored wine before battle to give them courage (though whether their increased pluckiness was due to the borage or the wine is up for debate). Herbalists still believe borage is useful in treating a wide range of ailments from depression to skin inflammatios. But take note that borage is considered to have laxative properties as well. So moderate your intake until you know how it affects you. Otherwise, the only courage you’ll need is to resist the call of nature (sorry, we went there).
Tell us: What are your favorite ways to use borage?
Photos by James Ransom
FAQs
What is a Pimm's Cup? Redolent of summer and all things aristocratic and British, the classic Pimm's Cup recipe involves Pimm's No. 1, fizzy lemonade, lemon juice, lots of ice and a borderline-ridiculous garnish situation—think whole strawberries and a garden's worth of basil leaves.
Where did Pimms originate from? ›
History. Pimm, a farmer's son from Kent, became the owner of an oyster bar in the City of London, near the Bank of England. He offered the tonic (a gin-based drink containing a secret mixture of herbs and liqueurs) as an aid to digestion, serving it in a small tankard known as a "No. 1 Cup", hence its subsequent name.
What do pimms consist of? ›
Pimm's is a gin-based spirit, made by infusing gin with a secret combination of herbal botanicals, caramelised orange and warm spices. Mr Pimm originally served it at his oyster bar in London, but by the 1850s it had gained popularity and gone into mass production.
What is similar to Pimm's Cup? ›
Fruit Cup Tasting – Beyond Pimm's
- Pimm's No. ...
- Plymouth Fruit Cup – 30%ABV Available from Plymouth Gin Distillery and selected off-licences. ...
- Stones Summer Cup – 13.5% ABV This is produced by the makers of the famous Ginger Wine of the same name and is marketed as a light version of their ginger wine.
Pimm's has an ABV of 25%. While this isn't as strong as your average gin (which is usually 37.5% ABV and up), it can definitely get you drunk, so please drink responsibly!
What is the flavor of Pimms? ›
The original Pimm's liqueur has a dark amber hue with flavors of sweet citrus, aromatic herbs, and a delicate bitter bite from the quinine. There's a light spice that lingers from the juniper and ginger used in the recipe.
What was the original Pimms Cup in New Orleans? ›
The Original Pimms Cup
A hundred years later in the 1940s, the owner of the Napoleon House in the French Quarter took Pimm's No. 1 creation (there were actually six variations of Pimm's at one time) and gave it a New Orleans twist by adding lemonade, Seven Up and a cucumber garnish.
How long do pimms last? ›
Pimm's does not need to be refrigerated, but it can be stored in the refrigerator to prolong its shelf life. Unopened Pimm's can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 years. Once opened, Pimm's should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 6 months.
What brand is Pimms drink? ›
Pimm's was created in London in 1840 by James Pimm who, according to Diageo, "blended his famous No. 1 Cup - a secret recipe of gin, herbs, and liqueur - as an aid for digesting oysters in his London Oyster bar".
Is Pimms good for you? ›
Yes, PIMM'S was originally sold as a (kind of) health drink. Obviously it's changed a bit since then and has risen in alcohol content quite substantially, which means it's not so healthy anymore.
And then there is the Pimm's Cup
Or it can aspire to be a true Cuba Libre, with a squeeze of lime, a dash of bitters, maybe a splash of gin, and perhaps even Mexican-recipe Coca-Cola.
What alcohol can I substitute for Pimms? ›
Here are five slightly less well known, but no less delicious, alternatives.
- 1 Campari.
- 2 Dubonnet. No list of pre-dinner drinks would be complete without Dubonnet, a blend of fortified wine, herbs and spices that includes a touch of quinine. ...
- 3 Lillet Blanc. ...
- 4 Vermouth. ...
- 5 Select.
James Pimm, the owner of a London oyster bar, invented the drink sometime between 1823 and 1840. The original version featured gin, quinine, and various herbs, and it reportedly aided digestion. The drink was known as the “house cup,” which inspired the name “Pimm's No.
How many Pimms cups are there? ›
Seven Pimm's products have been produced, all fruit cups, differing only in their base alcohol: Only Nos. 1, 6, and a 'Winter Cup' based on No. 3 remain.
What is the Italian version of Pimms? ›
Preparation. Muddle the cucumber wheel and Cynar in the bottom of a highball glass. Add ice cubes, Pimm's, and tonic water. Stir gently, then add the cucumber spear and the lemon wedge.
What is a substitute for Pimm's liquor? ›
Here are five slightly less well known, but no less delicious, alternatives.
- 1 Campari.
- 2 Dubonnet. No list of pre-dinner drinks would be complete without Dubonnet, a blend of fortified wine, herbs and spices that includes a touch of quinine. ...
- 3 Lillet Blanc. ...
- 4 Vermouth. ...
- 5 Select.
The popular drink first made its mark among the well-to-do set at New Orleans' Napoleon House bar and restaurant in the late 1940s. This light, crisp and oh-so-effervescent aperitif of gin, fresh lemonade and 7-Up — served with a sliver of fresh cucumber — is still one of the state's most popular summer-sippers.
Why is quinine in Pimm's? ›
Pimm's Contains Anti-malaria Medicine.
As if we needed any more convincing that Pimm's is the perfect summer drink, it's a mosquito's worst nightmare. Like tonic water, Pimm's contains a chemical called quinine, which is commonly used to treat malaria.
What is a sapphire martini made of? ›
Steps to Make It
In a frozen co*cktail glass, Add a couple of dashes each of blue curaçao and dry vermouth. Pour in the ice-cold gin. Garnish with the lemon twist. Serve and enjoy.
