Grow your own bouquet garni
If you’ve ever dreamt of cooking like a French chef, it starts with one secret: bouquet garni. These little bundles of herbs are a simple, natural way to infuse your dishes with deep, layered flavour. And the best bit? You can grow every ingredient right in your own garden.
At Elmwood Nursery & Garden Centre in Emersons Green, we’ve got all the herbs you need to plant your own culinary herb patch—perfect for home cooks who want flavour straight from the source.
Here’s how to build a bouquet garni garden tailored to your favourite dishes:
For Poultry
Light, citrusy herbs pair beautifully with chicken, duck, or turkey. Try:
- Lemon thyme or lemongrass
- Hyssop
- Tarragon
- Thyme
- Flat-leaf parsley
For Fish
Aniseed-scented herbs are the go-to for fish like salmon, perch, or plaice:
- Fennel
- Tarragon
- Dill
- Bay
- Lovage
For Meat
Hearty stews and slow-cooked roasts shine with bold, Mediterranean herbs:
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Sage
- Thyme
- Bay
To make your own bouquet garni:
- Pick a fresh sprig of each herb, keeping the stalks intact.
- Tie the bundle tightly with kitchen string.
- Drop it into your stew, soup or sauce while it cooks—tie it to the pot handle so it’s easy to retrieve.
- Remove before serving.
With just a handful of herbs, you can lift your everyday cooking to something extraordinary. Drop by our garden centre in Emersons Green for expert advice on choosing and growing your favourite culinary herbs—we’ll help you grow your own flavour, season after season.
