“What Does (Herb) Taste Like?”

Herbs on Cutting Board

Short flavor profiles for fifteen common Herbs

There's actually a lot of overlap with the flavor of some herbs because they are in the same plant family and share some naturally occurring chemicals.

For example: the Mint family includes basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, and thyme. 

So when someone says “It has an herb flavor...” I think of this group.

Hopefully this list will help you build a “mental toolbox” and make it easier to cook without a recipe (intuitive cooking). It's easier for me to recall a flavor when I match it with a familiar food, so that's what I did here.

This list has the Herb, a familiar food, then the flavor

Basil - Caprese Salad: Pepper & Clove

Bay - Beef Stew: Eucalyptus & Woodsy

Chervil - French Food: Parsley & Anise

Cilantro - Salsa: Fresh & Tangy

Dill - Dip & Seafood: Parsley & Anise

Lemon Grass - Thai Food: Citronella & Lemon

Marjoram - Mediterranean Food: Sweet Oregano

Mint - Gum & Candy: Sharp & Cooling

Oregano - Pizza Sauce: Warm & Bitter

Parsley - Stroganoff: Astringent & Peppery

Rosemary - Grilled Beef: Pine & Lemon

Sage - Turkey Stuffing: Pine & Earth

Savory - Bean Soup: Sage & Peppery

Tarragon - Bearnaise Sauce: Anise & Mint

Thyme - Meatloaf: Earthy & Clove

If you found this helpful give me a shout - I'll make one about ground spices too!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net