The Complete Book of Herbs & Spices [Hardcover]

Sarah Garland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1993

This is designed to be a definitive guide to growing and using culinary, aromatic, cosmetic and medicinal plants. Now fully revised, The Complete Book of Herbs & Spices covers every aspect of this fascinating subject, from gardening with herbs to cooking and candle making. It is essential reading for all those who delight in tradition and enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If you've sometimes wondered what yarrow, et al., is good for, this book can tell you: it is "a wound herb, astringent and healing, and rich in vitamins and minerals." Moreover, it may even "increase the health of nearby plants." Entries in this herbal resource also offer directions to would-be growers, the various amusing common names of the assembled plants (for coriander, "dizzycorn," for cassia, "bastard cinnamon") and historical asides: the Incas, for example, worshipped the sunflower. In addition, there are recipes--for soap, bath oil, herbal dyes, pomanders, and edible contrivances: toffee, salad, green mayonnaise and more. Nicely designed but not remarkable, the volume is illustrated with a range of graphics, from medieval woodcuts to the glow of contemporary color photography.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Books with the word "complete" in the title don't always meet expectations, but this reissue of a modern herbal ( LJ 12/1/79) does not disappoint. Following an introductory chapter on the history and traditions of herbs, Garland describes over 300 herbs and spices. Each plant is illustrated with detailed watercolor drawings, and information on its culture, preparation, and various uses is provided. There are some minor revisions of text and illustrations, but the bibliography has not been updated. Many fine herb books have been published since this book first appeared. Of particular note is the eminently practical Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs ( LJ 11/15/87) and Emelie Tolley and Chris Mead's beautiful Herbs: Gardens, Decorations and Recipes (Clarkson Potter: Crown, 1985). If Garland's book is not already on the shelf, it also deserves a place. For most gardening collections.
- Virginia A. Henrichs, Chicago Botanic Garden Lib., Glencoe, Ill.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Readers Digest; Revised edition (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711208050
• ISBN-13: 978-0895774996
• ASIN: 0895774992
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,843,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Good Stuff, February 27, 2000

By 

"outlandswanderer" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book of Herbs & Spices (Hardcover)

This book contains an overview of information for the budding herbalist: plant lists, pictures, growing information (sun, shade, plant size, and zone!), as well as general information about medicinal usage. Tons of interesting recipes, too. This isn't a detailed herbal medicinal, but a good starting point.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for indentifcation and growing, February 22, 2008

By 

Janicez (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices (Paperback)

This book is very useful for people who want to grow herbs and know what they are used for. The first section of the book lists all the herbs alphabetically by latin name. There is a drawing of the plant along with a description of what it's used for and how to grow it. Since the author is British all the growing information relates to that country and has to be reinterpreted for the U.S. Take care if the book says will over winter etc. (like Rosemary which is a shrub in the UK but won't survive in the northern states). There is also a section on poisonous herbs so you know what to avoid or take care with.
The next section is a small overview of growing herbs in your garden which again has to be reinterpreted but is good general information.
There is a nice section on cooking with herbs, it's not comprehensive and many other books which deal specifically with cooking with give more information but it's a good starter. It also has a section on making herb drinks including wines and beers which is interesting.
It then goes on to detail how to explain how to use herbs in the home, making candles, pot pourri, using herbs to clean with and making fabric dyes. Lastly there is a section on cosmetic use for herbs and information on how to make infusions, decoctions and macerations. Lots of recipes for bath waters, skin and hair care. The final section on health is very short and not very comprehensive. However as an overall book it's very good. I especially like the herbal listings at the front of the book and the home herbs section the rest is just a bonus for me.
As an overall informative book on herbs especially if you want to identify and grow them it's excellent. If you want a cookery book or a herb health book this won't help that much.

2.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book but not what I wanted, June 21, 2010

By 

Iona Tamsin Stewart (Odense, Denmark) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices (Paperback)

This is an exceptionally beautiful book with lovely illustrations of all the various herbs. Chapter titles are: A modern herbal, Cooking with herbs and spices, Household herbs and spices, Cosmetic herbs and, finally, Herbs for health.

But the book was not quite what I had envisaged, in fact not at all, the main interest I have in herbs being for health purposes. And in the section on herbs for health the author states that since partaking of herbal medicine can be dangerous, "the recipes that follow are all of a simple and domestic nature, being mild remedies for sore throats,'flu, bowel troubles, indigestion and so on". These are not areas that I need help with, my ailments being of a more serious nature.

I was thus somewhat disappointed with this book and can only give it 2 stars, this judgement being completely subjective of course. On the positive side, I can state that the book contains a good recipe for an antiseptic garlic dressing, suggestions for soothing the sites of insect bites together with instructions for dealing with warts, corns and chilblains. In fact the whole section on herbs for health is quite useful and instructive, just not so interesting to me personally.

This may be a valuable book for those primarily interested in the horticultural aspect of herbs and spices and how to identify these plants. The section on cooking with herbs and spices may also be interesting to many.