Hyssop recipes

A strong-flavoured aromatic herb from the Mediterranean region, similar to rosemary or lavender. During the Middle Ages it was popular as a flavouring for soups and stuffings, but now its main use is in the distillation of liqueurs such as Chartreuse. It’s less common now so quite hard to come by, but the young leaves can be used in cooking – chop and scatter onto salads, meat or oily fish dishes, or use to flavour soups, stews and fruit dishes. Hyssop is said to aid the digestion of fatty or rich foods. It also makes excellent honey: bees are attracted to its beautiful blue flowers.