Clary Sage

Salvia sclarea · Herb

40 pairings

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), also called clary, muscatel sage or clear-eye, is a big, hairy aromatic biennial of the mint family whose broad crinkled leaves and towering flower spikes give off a heady, sweet-musky scent that reads as muscat grapes crossed with balsam, herbaceous sage and a faint amber sweat. Long grown as a pot-herb and eye remedy, it earned its keep as a wine and vermouth flavouring — its sclareol and linalyl-acetate character mimicking the muscatel grape — and today its essential oil is a mainstay of perfumery.

Picking a good onedrag

Just cut, grey-green and springyBlackened, limp, sour at the cut

Market freshThe leaf is the cooking part - shredded into omelettes, fritters and stews. It is loud, so use a little; the distilled oil is a separate, far stronger article.Everyday best

The leafStill grey-green, edges relaxed, a yellow leaf low down

Stem and cut endStem firm, cut end darkening slightly

Lift the bunchLeaves hang a little but lift back when you shake it

Rub a leafClearly sweet and herbaceous, the grape note quieter

What to look for, from just cut, grey-green and springy to blackened, limp, sour at the cut.

Preparing