Native to the tropics of the Americas, Papaya has been in continuous cultivation for several centuries, principally for its sweet fruit. The leaves are widely used in cooking and contain an enzyme that is useful in tenderizing tough meat. In some parts of South Asia, the young leaves are steamed and eaten like spinach.
Yarrow has a history dating back as far as the battle of Troy, where it was used to treat injured soldiers and adopted the common name of 'soldier's woundwort'. The ancient Greeks gave yarrow the name "achillea" after Achilles, the legendary heroic warrior.
This perennial herb grows about 3 feet tall and can be found in Europe, west Asia and North America. The white flowers usually form flat, daisy-like clusters up to a foot across and may be found in pastures, meadows and along roadsides, flowering from summer to autumn. Yarrow makes a very good medicinal tea with a slightly astringent taste.
The use of Senna as an herb apparently predates written records. It is native to Arabia and Somolia, but now grows in most tropical parts of the world where there is rich soil.
This Senna, also called Alexandria Senna, reaches up to 3 feet in height and has pale green stems with brittle, olive green leaflets, which are usually consumed as a tea. Senna is frequently combined with aromatic herbs such as Cinnamon, Ginger, Anise and Fennel. Try adding fruit to make a tasty treat.
Sage is a perennial mint native to the northern shore of the Mediterranean. Much more than a culinary delight, Sage was an active part of the medicine cabinet of the ancient Romans. Manuscripts of monks from the 10th and 11th centuries document Sage as an honoured herb among apothecaries. In Medieval Europe, Sage was a favourite hot beverage and was often added to ale.
Today, Sage is popular as an aromatic tea as well as a culinary herb.