Lovage
Levisticum officinale
CULINARY HERB
"The whole plant and every part of it is as profitable as it is pleasant."
— Thomas Hill, The Gardener's Labyrinth (1577)
Lovage was once so popular that a century ago, it was a staple in almost every soup or stew. Known as "Love-Ache" or "Love Parsley," it was long entwined with romantic symbolism and used for centuries in love potions to attract suitors. It was a centerpiece of monastery gardens, valued as a warming, stimulating herb that supported digestion and vitality. However, as culinary tastes shifted toward milder flavours like celery and its reputation as an aphrodisiac was debunked in the early 1900s, it largely disappeared from modern kitchens.
THE HERBAL KITCHEN
This "Maggi Herb" earned its nickname because its potent, salty flavour closely resembles well-known commercial stock cubes. It tastes like a robust blend of celery and parsley with a subtle hint of fennel. While the leaves and stems are excellent in soups, stews, and breads, the seeds are used as a spice and the roots can be candied like angelica. It is also a surprising but delicous partner for gin infusions
THE HERBAL APOTHECARY
Medicinally, lovage is recognized as a powerful digestive remedy and a natural diuretic. Historically, it was used to treat respiratory and urinary health issues due to its stimulating properties. In medieval Europe, travellers would even tuck the leaves into their shoes to revive tired, aching feet during long journeys.
BOTANICAL BEAUTY
The herb's refreshing properties make it ideal for invigorating bath soaks or specialized soaks for tired and smelly feet. Its historic use in reviving weary travellers continues today through topical applications that harness its stimulating and energy-restoring nature.
THE NATURAL HOME & GARDEN
Lovage is a hardy perennial that can grow up to two metres tall, making it a striking addition to the back of a border. It prefers full sun to partial shade and deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Inside the home, its versatile nature extends even to cleaning, where it can be used to create natural furniture polish
WHY YOU SHOULD GROW THIS HERB
Lovage is well worth cultivating for anyone who enjoys cooking, as it provides a much healthier, homegrown alternative to store-bought stock powders. Though it may be slow to establish, it is a long-lived plant that gets along well with the rest of the garden once settled.
RECIPES
From the kitchen to the garden shed, follow these links for step-by-step guides using Lovage
The Herbal Kitchen
UNLOCK THE FULL MASTER GUIDE
For the deep dive—including botanical etymology, ancestral history, and the complete medicinal and functional archive for Lovage look for the Barefoot Herb Guide here:
Culinary Herbs Volume 3
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