COSTMARY
Costmary (Chrysanthemum balsamita) a member of the Daisy family, is also known as bible leaf, alecost, mint geranium, and in France as Herbe Sainte Marie. It is native to Asia and was popular in ancient Greece and Rome. It was known as 'alecost' because of its use in flavoring ale and beer, and as 'bible leaf' because the larger leaves were used as bookmarks in bibles.
The leaves of this herb have a strong lemon-mint flavor, and were used in game and meat dishes, chopped in salads, and for brewing as tea. A single leaf was frequently placed in the bottom of a cake pan, which would flavor the whole cake. Some old herbals also mention its use as a moth repellent.
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