Scarborough Fair
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there,
She once was a true love of mine.
— Simon & Garfunkel
This bountiful herb harvest includes a ballad for your palette -- a delicate tribute to Scarborough Fair. These herbs have been celebrated since the Middle Ages for their robustness, courage, comfort, and connection to love. The bright parsley, warm and fuzzy sage, steadfast rosemary, and thyme tonic are as cozy and classic as the ancient song. These herbs infuse health benefits as powerful internal cleansers, containing vitamins A, K, and C, iron, and magnesium.
At Area 2 Farms, a “true love of ours” is the inspiration we take from history and the motivation we get from music. Come with us to Scarborough Fair, and take a closer look at the powerful herbs you have in your hands straight from your local organic farmer.
What is Scarborough Fair?
Scarborough Fair is a traditional ballad hailing from England. It is likely a variant of a Scottish song from the 17th century. The ballad was made ubiquitous in American folk culture through the 1966 song by Simon & Garfunkel. The lyrics used by the duo resemble the historical rhymes, and the beauty of the lilting melodies easily obscures its rather hilarious meaning — the song is a list of outlandish requests of the singer’s former lover.
The Scarborough Fair of the Middle Ages was chartered in 1253 and lasted until 1788. Beginning in mid-August and lasting until September’s end, Scarborough's English coastal town would be teeming with tradespeople, farmers, and others selling their harvests and wares. For the most part, trade there occurred on a traditional barter system.
Where there was trade and commerce, there arrived troubadours, entertainers, and all sorts of people. Scarborough, in its Middle Ages heyday, was a great hub of activity and not-to-be-missed entertainment and goods exchange.
In 2023, the BBC announced that Scarborough Fair would return in 2026, though this time, the fair will be year-round and reimagined as a cultural arts, heritage, sporting, and culinary destination. We hope farm-fresh, local food is on the menu agenda.
Benefits of Parsley
Parsley has been used since before Scarborough Fair as the cooling, leafy herb used as a diuretic by people and animals for millennia. Delicate to the touch but bursting with flavor, parsley packs in vitamins C and B12 and beta-carotene. The biting taste helps produce bile, naturally cleansing the liver. Herbalists, especially those concerned with women’s health, have used parsley for its many health benefits throughout the centuries.
Drink parsley in a tea to help combat anemia, as the nutrient-rich concoction will help you to absorb more iron in your system. And eat parsley for brain health, as the herb contains apigenin, which helps to form and fortify neurons.
Benefits of Sage
An herb as wise as its name, sage is a perennial herb in the mint family. Sage is high in magnesium, contains zinc, and delivers a dose of vitamin K. Rosmarinic acid in sage can help fight inflammation and aid in stabilizing blood sugar.
The fuzzy beauty tastes good, leaves a lingering aroma when burned or steeped in hot water, and grows heartily in many climates. During the days of the original Scarborough Fair, sage was used to treat oral complaints and bad breath. It’s still known for its oral health-boosting potential today, as it’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
In the kitchen, use sage in Mediterranean dishes. It warms the palette and can soften any taste profile or be used as the leading flavor agent.
Benefits of Rosemary
Rosemary, like sage, has rosmarinic acid and other compounds that make it a super herb. Rosemary is a powerful astringent and can be used for internal and external cleansing to ward off infections and colds.
As in history, rosemary is used today to boost memory and fortify the brain, improve digestion, fight inflammation and infection, and smell delightful and woodsy. Rosemary plants are hardy and grow quickly in gardens and homes.
In cooking, rosemary is used as an infusion in many sauces, to flavor red meat, and as an edible garnish for any entree dish. Delicious in pasta and sprinkled on fish, this herb is versatile in the kitchen and for use throughout the home. Rosemary is a staple of Area 2 Farms, and we hope it’s one in your home, too.
Benefits of Thyme
Like sage, thyme is technically of the mint family. Grown in many varieties, this herb can take over a container. A natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, the herb that rounds out the Scarborough Fair blend is more of an ovation than an afterthought.
Add thyme to soups, stews, roast dishes, or Italian foods. It works well added to dairy-based dips. Adding mint to thyme and boiling them into a tea is sure to fight off an oncoming cold, and some mixologists get creative and use it to garnish a crisp cocktail.
Use Scarborough Fair Blend for Dinner
The most famous use of the Scarborough Fair blend is in meat dishes, especially those popular during the Middle Ages. Flavor a roasted chicken, brown a large turkey, or add these to a pork loin for unforgettable blends. Beef lovers can add this blend to a rub, or in the jus of a ribeye.
A savory gravy made with a mushroom and tomato base is a perennial vegetarian favorite.
Area 2 Farms suggests using our mirepoix mix to create a soup base, then add peas, chicken, and wild rice with the herb blend and salt and pepper to taste for a perfectly aromatic and hearty chicken and rice soup.
