Maggi (=Lovage)
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Cindy
Posted on: April 4, 2001

I was directed to your web site via White Rose. I was looking for a herb (I think) called "Maggi". I use it in a liquid form for cooking which I learned about through my mother-in-law who is of German descent but also I know that the Swiss use it also. I was watching a cooking show on tv and they used maggi but they went outside and picked it from the garden and I would really love to get a have of one of these plants. Please let me know if you can direct to where I may be able to get one, I didn’t find in your list of herbs.

"Maggi" or "Maggi plant" is lovage (Levisticum officinale). It is a large herb that can reach 1-2 metres (3-6 feet) in height. It looks like a giant celery. It is very hardy and is the first herb to come up in spring. The foliage has a strong celery-like aroma and flavour which makes it popular in soups and stews.

This wonderful herb deserves much wider use in North America! It continues to amaze me that it is not as popular and well-known as basil, oregano, and tarragon.

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