In Anatolia's rich cuisine, spices, regardless of region, take their place in recipes and liven up the tables. Rosemary, as one of these wonderful spices, more than lives up to the interest shown in it!

Rosemary, which adds flavor to dishes and is frequently preferred for this reason, is a type of spice that almost everyone is familiar with. Moreover, this plant creates wonders not only as a spice but also in different forms and uses. However, unfortunately, the number of people who know this is not as widespread… If you are not yet familiar with rosemary, you should definitely read this article!

1. WHAT IS ROSEMARY?

Rosemary, although known in its dried spice form, is actually a green shrub with narrow, needle-like leaves. This plant can grow between one and two meters tall at its most developed stage. In addition, rosemary can retain its green color in all seasons. The rosemary plant has blue-purple flowers. However, the dominant scent of the plant comes not from its flowers, but from its leaves. Rosemary, whose Latin name is Rosmarinus Officinalis, belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Rosmarinus means "dew of the sea" in Latin. For this reason, botanists give this name to rosemary, which loves the seaside. Although the commonly known name of the plant in Turkish is biberiye, it is also called "kuş dili otu" (bird's tongue herb) in some regions.

2. WHERE DOES ROSEMARY GROW?

Rosemary, a plant species that grows in Mediterranean climate conditions, is cultivated in the southern parts of Turkey. In addition, the plant is widely produced in other countries that experience the Mediterranean climate. The fact that rosemary stays green all year round also creates a great advantage for producers.

3. IN WHAT FORMS ARE ROSEMARY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE?

As important as growing rosemary is for producers to make it usable in the most efficient way. Rosemary leaves and flowers, harvested fresh when it is time to cut, are then subjected to certain processes to make them suitable for use. Of course, this is not a prerequisite for the plant to be consumed as food. Rosemary leaves are also suitable for consumption as food in fresh form.

3.1. ROSEMARY POWDER

Powdered rosemary, used as a flavoring spice in dishes, undergoes several processes before reaching the table. For this, rosemary, collected fresh, is first dried under appropriate conditions. At this point, particular care is taken to ensure that the temperature the plants are exposed to does not exceed 40 C°. Because at a higher temperature than this, the amount of volatile oil and nutritional values in rosemary decrease significantly.

3.2. ROSEMARY OIL

Rosemary is widely in demand not only in the food sector but also in many different areas. For this, herbal waters, essences, and oils obtained from the flower and leaves of rosemary are generally preferred. The steam distillation method is used for the production of liquid rosemary products. This method, which is mostly used in the distillation of substances containing volatile components, also ensures the preservation of the volatile components in rosemary.

4. WHERE IS ROSEMARY USED?

Rosemary can be used in many different areas due to its pleasant aroma and effective components. The primary use is its consumption as a foodstuff. Fresh or dried rosemary can be added to dishes as a flavoring or steeped and consumed as tea. So, how is liquid rosemary used? There are many answers to this. The cosmetics and perfume industry constitute active areas of use for rosemary oil. Essential oil produced from rosemary is preferred in perfumes with green-herbaceous notes that stand out with their fresh scents. In addition, this oil is also included in skin care products due to its soothing and moisturizing properties. Rosemary, which is also in high demand in the field of aromatherapy, is frequently used in this field in the form of oil or hydrosol (herbal water).

5. WHAT COMPONENTS ARE FOUND IN ROSEMARY?

The flowers of rosemary, used to produce essence, contain a significant amount of essential oil. This oil, composed of camphor, borneol, and cineol, is reported in scientific sources to have anti-inflammatory properties. The frequently consumed leaf part of rosemary contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and vitamin B9. In addition, this plant is known to be rich in calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. Rosemary, which is also known to be a strong source of antioxidants, is also a powerful fighter against free radicals.

6. HOW IS ROSEMARY CONSUMED?

Fresh rosemary, when used in meat marinades, gives the dish a delicious aroma and also has the same effect in salads with plenty of greens. In addition, rosemary tea made from a few sprigs of fresh rosemary is a delicious and beneficial hot drink alternative. Similarly, dried rosemary can also be added to soups and dishes as a flavoring. The plant also achieves a very harmonious flavor with olives and olive oil.

7. WHERE IS ROSEMARY FOUND?

Rosemary products, which come in many different forms, can be found in different places depending on the form you need. Fresh rosemary can usually be easily found in the fresh herbs section of most supermarkets' vegetable aisles. Dried rosemary can also be obtained from supermarkets or herbalists. If you are looking for rosemary oil or hydrosol, you usually need to look in stores that sell aromatherapy products.

8. THE POWERFUL COLLABORATION OF ROSEMARY AND BEE PRODUCTS: APITERA MIND

Apitera Mind, part of the Balparmak Apitera series, like all other products in the series, draws its strength from the combination of bee products and valuable plants. Balparmak, meticulously researching valuable plants that have been used for centuries, offers a very ambitious formula with Apitera Mind. Moreover, with the addition of honey and propolis to this mixture, the energy and nutritional values are further enriched. Each nutrient in Apitera Mind has a targeted characteristic. These include ginkgo biloba leaf extract, blueberry powder, pomegranate juice concentrate, turmeric and cinnamon, as well as rosemary. The honey and propolis added to all these rich nutrients further enhance the content.

With Apitera Mind, accompanied by rosemary, whose benefits have been known since ancient times, every day will be your day!