Borage: What It Is and How to Use It
Borage (Borago officinalis) is a flowering herb with bright blue star-shaped blossoms and leaves that taste remarkably like cucumber — a favorite of herb gardeners and a traditional ingredient across Europe. You can find it at William's Natural Foods, 12249 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA 94805, in our bulk herb section.
Available in Bulk
We carry borage in our bulk herb section, so you can grab the exact amount you want — from a spoonful to try in a summer tea to a full bag for ongoing use. Our staff can help you find it and suggest herbs that pair well with its fresh flavor.
What We Carry
We stock borage in cut and sifted dried form, sold by weight. We also carry a wide selection of culinary and tea herbs in bulk, so you can build custom blends with exactly the flavors you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does borage taste like?
Fresh borage leaves and flowers taste like cucumber with a hint of mild greenness — it is one of the most refreshing flavors in the herb world. The dried form is milder but still pleasant in teas. The vivid blue flowers are also edible and make a beautiful garnish for salads, drinks, and desserts.
What was borage traditionally used for?
Borage has been grown in European herb gardens since at least the Middle Ages, where it was traditionally used to lift the spirits — the old herbal saying was that borage "maketh a man merry." Its flowers were floated in wine cups and punches, including the famous Pimm's Cup. These are traditional and culinary uses, not medical recommendations. Note that some modern herbal references advise caution with internal use of the leaves due to naturally occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloids — the flowers are the gentlest part.
How do you use borage in drinks?
The classic use is in cold summer drinks: add dried borage to iced tea or lemonade for a cucumber-like freshness, or use it in homemade herbal punch. The flowers can be frozen into ice cubes for a beautiful touch in party drinks. For hot tea, steep a teaspoon in hot water for 5 minutes and blend with lemon balm or mint.
Can I grow borage at home?
Yes — borage is famously easy to grow from seed and self-sows freely, which is why gardeners joke that you only plant it once. It prefers full sun and ordinary soil, and bees adore the blue flowers. One caution: it resents transplanting, so sow seeds where you want the plants to stay.
Did you know? Borage flowers are a bee magnet — a single plant can produce hundreds of blossoms, and honeybees visit them so enthusiastically that borage honey is a recognized specialty in parts of Europe (source: Royal Horticultural Society plant profiles).
Visit William's Natural Foods at 12249 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA — open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. Our staff are happy to help you find borage in the bulk herb section.
This guide is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a qualified health professional about any health questions.