Sage is a perennial herb grown in regions all over the world and used for its culinary and medicinal properties. Despite its global cultivation, the Greek Sage with its intense aromatic flavor and medicinal value it is simply unique.
Greek sage is an evergreen shrub whose height and width ranges from 60cm to 1m. Its leaves, wide and flat, grow in abundance and form clusters that give the plant a bushy appearance.

The plant produces corymbs of purplish flowers. The herb blooms from early May till the end of June and is collected during the months of June and July. Its preference for dry and rocky locations is the reason why it can be seen growing in regions all over Greece. However, it is lavishly found in South Aegean islands where the landscapes are abundant in mountainous hillsides. The morphology of these islands’ soil, as well as climate conditions, are key to the sweet aromatic odor of Greek Sage which has made it famous worldwide. Greek sage has long been acclaimed for its medicinal properties; the ancient Greek pharmacologist and botanist Dioscorides as well as Pliny and Galen were quick to trace the diuretic, Anti-hemorrhagic and tonic properties of the herb. The scientific name of Sage is Salvia, a derivative from the Latin “salvare” (=to feel well and healthy); and in fact, a look at the health benefits of Sage comes to prove that the herb lives up to its name.

Greek Sage contains intense oils, flavonoids (including diosmetin, apigenin and luteolin) and phenolic acids including rosmarinic acid which functions as an antioxidant and helps prevent diseases of the respiratory tract.
According to published researches, regular sage consumption aids in better brain function, enhances memory and alleviates depression and it also helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Sage leaves are commonly used to treat skin conditions and have shown to be effective against acne, eczema and psoriasis.

The flavorful leaves of Greek sage may be used to prepare an herbal tea beverage, rich in healthy benefits. As a tablespoon of sage is a valuable source of vitamin A, calcium, iron, magnesium, B vitamins, thiamin, and riboflavin and offers 43% of the daily recommended intake of Vitamin K. Sage can also be used as a seasoning as it goes well with beef, pork and chicken recipes; however, due to its strong flavor it should be used sparingly and early in the cooking process, rather than at the end of cooking like many delicate herbs. In ancient Greece sage was a sacred herb dedicated to Zeus the King of the Gods. Nowadays, little has changed as sage is a precious and essential ingredient studied worldwide. In research published in the US National Library of Medicine/ National Institutes of Health there has been a thorough analysis on the properties of sage potent to ”Prevent and Cure Illnesses such as Obesity, Diabetes, Depression, Dementia, Lupus, Autism, Heart Disease, and Cancer.”

It is apparent that sage is an herb that could have a positive effect on various parts of the body and health aspects.The sage of Rhodes Island in particular, thanks to the morphology of the ground and the microclima, is of top quality.n.