Medieval herb garden blog 77: Dill

Dill is used in lots of cuisines. These include central and eastern Europe, the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, the Middle East, Russia, Iran, India, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

Like its smell, the flavour of dill is like a “mix of fennel, celery, and parsley with a hint of anise and citrus”.

The leaves, seeds, and flowers are all edible. The flowers have a slightly stronger flavour than the leaves. They can be used in any recipe as a substitute. The flowers can be scattered over fish and seafood, egg-based dishes and pasta. They can also be sprinkled over soups, stews and corn, layered into sandwiches or stuffed into pitas. They can also be baked into bread, muffins, and scones.

Dill blossoms pair well with cucumbers, squash, celery, carrots and tomatoes. They also go with meats such as poultry, turkey and beef. Dill also works with seafood including shrimp, fish and scallops, eggs, potatoes, mushrooms and beets. It can also be folded into butter, mixed into dips, or added to sauces, pickles and brines. Again, the seeds have a stronger flavour than the leaves.

Dill creates gentle, muted green to yellow tones.

Dill has been found in the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep II, dating to around 1400 BC. It was also found in the Greek city of Samos around the 600s BC. The Ancient Greeks considered the presence of dill to be a sign of wealth and prosperity.

In the Middle Ages in Europe, people believed that drinking a dill tisane (tea-form) or hanging it over a doorway could break a witch's spell or prevent evil from entering the home. Carrying dill seeds over the heart was also believed to protect the wearer from the "Evil Eye".

Medieval mothers would hang sprigs of dill over or near a baby's cot. It was thoguht to ensure a safe, restful night's sleep and to protect the infant from dark magic. Similarly, placing a dill sachet under your pillow was meant to prevent nightmares and soothe anxiety.

Instead of hanging dill flowers for protection, households could place them in vases. This was to invite happiness and good luck into the home. Dusting your wallet with dried dill or keeping seeds in your pocket was thought to attract money and prosperity.

Occasionally, dill was thought to symbolise passion, fidelity and devotion. It was sometimes added to aphrodisiacs and love mixtures.

Puritans and Quakers gave children dill seeds to chew during long, multi-hour Sunday church services. The seeds kept them quiet and stopped them from getting hungry. This led to the plant's nickname "meetinghouse seed".

Tomato plants benefit from dill when it is young. It repels harmful pests while attracting pollinators. However, the dill must be pruned before it flowers. Otherwise, it can slow or stop the growth of the tomatoes.

The first written record of dill dates to Ancient Egypt. It was mentioned as a “soothing medicine”. It was thought that the Babylonians cultivated the plant around 3000 BC.

In Ancient Greece, dill was used in cures and remedies. It was especially used for epilepsy, flatulence and colic. In the 600s AD, dill was used in England for colic in infants and digestive diseases. It was also used to increase breast milk, alleviate “gripings”, windiness, ulcers of the “privities” and promote urine production. It helped to “stayeth the yex, hicket, or hicquet” (hiccoughs).

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.