Pineapple Sage is a hardy perennial that won’t need much care to grow, reaching mature heights of up-to five feet tall.
Pineapple sage gets its name from the strong pineapple aroma exuded by the leaves. Some have likened the fragrance to that of canned crushed pineapple, mingled with the scent of common sage. The flowers have a somewhat different flavour profile that includes the citrus and slightly musty mint notes often associated with common sage.
Pineapple sage, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, can also be used as treatment or preventative for conditions like:
- Anxiety: Pineapple sage has long been used in Mexican traditional medicine for relieving stress and anxiety.
- Poor digestion: Pineapple sage leaves can improve digestion of animal products including meat and dairy. Tea made from pineapple sage leaves is also widely considered to be effective for use as an antacid.
- Dementia: Pineapple sage and other relatives of common sage contain compounds that can help to protect against dementia and different types of neurodegenerative disease.
Pineapple sage is a valuable herb because of its versatility. Both the leaves and flowers of the pineapple sage plant are edible and may be used for seasoning poultry and other meats. While it will not make a perfect substitute for common sage, you can still use it in some of the same applications to get a fruity twist on the sage flavour. Alternatively, you can use the leaves raw in salads and desserts. The pineapple fragrance goes particularly well with fruit salads.
Most people prefer to use pineapple sage as a tea herb. Both dried and fresh pineapple sage can be used for this purpose. Pineapple sage tea is commonly sweetened with honey to enhance its flavour. The leaves are also popular for garnishing cold drinks such as iced teas and for muddling in cocktails like mojitos.
