Herbs: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, almost every day. I really think they bring dishes to life without needing heaps of salt. Whenever I whip up a tomato pasta sauce in the evening, I usually toss in a generous handful of fresh basil or dried oregano to give it a richer flavour.

I'd have to say coriander, although I know it divides opinion. I love the citrusy kick it gives to food, especially when I'm making curries or fresh noodle salads. My flatmate can't stand it, but for me, a dish feels incomplete without a sprinkle on top.

Not really, to be honest. My parents tended to stick to basic seasonings like black pepper and garlic powder. Fresh herbs were rarely on the shopping list, except perhaps some parsley around the festive season to garnish the Sunday roast. It was quite simple cooking back then.

I have, actually. Last spring, I planted mint and rosemary in small pots on my kitchen windowsill. The mint spread like wildfire and was great for brewing fresh tea, though I did forget to water the rosemary a few times and it ended up withering away.

Definitely. I'm quite curious about how traditional remedies work, particularly things like chamomile for relaxation or ginger for digestion. It'd be fascinating to understand how to blend natural ingredients properly, rather than just relying on over-the-counter medicine whenever I feel under the weather.