“I Borage, I always give courage” wrote the great botanist John Gerard in 1597. Earlier in the 15th century in Crete, monk Agapios wrote that “you eat it and become goodhearted”.
Similarly John Evelyn, in 1699, mentioned that “the virtues of Borage are well-known for refreshing the hypochondriac and ameliorating the mood”. Besides Pliny considered it as a perfect antidepressant, writing also that it brings joy and happiness wherever it grows.
Contemporary research justifies these believes, since it has been proved that it stimulated the adrenal glands, to produce, what else?… adrenaline.
On the other hand, the gastronomic virtues of this plant where recognized some centuries ago. Flowers and leaves are added to salads since Elizabethan times in order to “cheer up spirits” while traditionally it was added to wine “to make people joyful”.
It is very delicious and tender, with a wet and slightly sweat flavor that resembles very strongly that of the baby cucumber.
The plant grows wild all over the Mediterranean and it can be cultivated in gardens, in sunlit and humid soils. We cultivated (experimentally) in our garden at Chortiatis and we can now serve it at Rediviva. We make a refreshing pesto which accompanies marvelously a marinated fresh zucchini salad (also from our garden), decorated with the very tasty Borage flowers.