Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT. Oh,
there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

--
But you see, I can believe a thing without understanding it.
It's all a matter of training.
--Lord Peter Wimsey in Dorothy L Sayers' _Have His Carcase_

In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT. Oh,
there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

Both pronunciations are correct.

phorbin wrote:

In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT. Oh,
there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

Both pronunciations are correct.

Thank you for the prompt and to-the-point answer.

--
But you see, I can believe a thing without understanding it.
It's all a matter of training.
--Lord Peter Wimsey in Dorothy L Sayers' _Have His Carcase_

phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody stems
and doesn't die down seasonally, it's a herb in the cullinary/medicinal
sense.


Both pronunciations are correct.

There is no definitive answer to this one in an international forum. With
the "h" sounded is more common where I am, with it silent is likely to be
usage from a French language or dialectic background but that doesn't mean
it's wrong. In other places the silent form could be more common.

David

In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody stems
and doesn't die down seasonally, it's a herb in the cullinary/medicinal
sense.


Both pronunciations are correct.

There is no definitive answer to this one in an international forum. With
the "h" sounded is more common where I am, with it silent is likely to be
usage from a French language or dialectic background but that doesn't mean
it's wrong. In other places the silent form could be more common.

David

http://topazs_herbgarden.tripod.com/def_herb.htm

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

In article , says...
phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody stems
and doesn't die down seasonally, it's a herb in the cullinary/medicinal
sense.

A fair point. OED lists the culinary/medicinal first and botanical
second.


Both pronunciations are correct.

There is no definitive answer to this one in an international forum. With
the "h" sounded is more common where I am, with it silent is likely to be
usage from a French language or dialectic background but that doesn't mean
it's wrong. In other places the silent form could be more common.

Around here, most of the people I know pronounce it erb. I was taught to
"put 'an' before herb because the h is silent."

David Hare-Scott wrote:

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody stems
and doesn't die down seasonally, it's a herb in the cullinary/medicinal
sense.

Indeed, this distinction was part of the reason for me asking.

--
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by
this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
Jonathan Swift: Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT. Oh,
there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

--
But you see, I can believe a thing without understanding it.
It's all a matter of training.
--Lord Peter Wimsey in Dorothy L Sayers' _Have His Carcase_

I say "herb" with the "h" silent to distinguish when talking to, or in
hearing distance of Herb (Herbert). I'm definitely not French. I believe I
learned the pronunciation in a Catholic elementary school. Latin, not
French, was the closest to a second language I had at the time. The
predominant nationality of teachers and church staff was Irish. Was
definitely not part of any conversations I had in my early years.
--
Dave

On 05/02/09 23:23, David Hare-Scott wrote:
phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody
stems and doesn't die down seasonally.

David

The Rosemary bush in my garden has woody stems and does not die down
seasonally. And yet, Rosemary is a herb!

Ed

Ed wrote:
On 05/02/09 23:23, David Hare-Scott wrote:
phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody
stems and doesn't die down seasonally.

David

The Rosemary bush in my garden has woody stems and does not die down
seasonally. And yet, Rosemary is a herb!

Ed

Sure it is a medicinal/culinary herb. From Wikipedia:

"In botanical usage a herb or herbaceous plant is any non-woody plant,
regardless of its flavor, scent or other properties. A botanical herb cannot
therefore be a woody plant such as a tree or shrub."

David

Dioclese wrote:
"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT. Oh,
there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

--
But you see, I can believe a thing without understanding it.
It's all a matter of training.
--Lord Peter Wimsey in Dorothy L Sayers' _Have His Carcase_

I say "herb" with the "h" silent to distinguish when talking to, or in
hearing distance of Herb (Herbert). I'm definitely not French. I
believe I learned the pronunciation in a Catholic elementary school.
Latin, not French, was the closest to a second language I had at the
time. The predominant nationality of teachers and church staff was
Irish. Was definitely not part of any conversations I had in my
early years.

The Irish - Catholic connection is interesting. As a child I met numerous
children brought up as Catholics who refered to the letter "h" as haitch but
those who were brought up protestants said aitch. I later learned that this
is not a peculiarity of religion at all (in my region at least) but that it
came from many of the teachers in the Catholic private education system
being of Irish origin whereas the non-catholics mostly went to public
schools where the teachers were not Irish. I don't recall them saying 'erb
though but we didn't discuss herbs much.

In the way of kids the cafliks yelled insults (and sometimes rocks) at the
prodes over the fence and vic-versa. On one memorable occasion some of the
older boys were lined up for a scuffle and each declared "I'm Catholic" or
"I'm Church of England" as the case might be. The battle lines were drawn
and they turned to me and I said quaking "I'm Kindergarten" and so was
excused the ensuing melee.

David

In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:


The Irish - Catholic connection is interesting. As a child I met numerous
children brought up as Catholics who refered to the letter "h" as haitch but
those who were brought up protestants said aitch. I later learned that this
is not a peculiarity of religion at all (in my region at least) but that it
came from many of the teachers in the Catholic private education system
being of Irish origin whereas the non-catholics mostly went to public
schools where the teachers were not Irish. I don't recall them saying 'erb
though but we didn't discuss herbs much.

In the way of kids the cafliks yelled insults (and sometimes rocks) at the
prodes over the fence and vic-versa. On one memorable occasion some of the
older boys were lined up for a scuffle and each declared "I'm Catholic" or
"I'm Church of England" as the case might be. The battle lines were drawn
and they turned to me and I said quaking

"I'm Kindergarten" and so was
excused the ensuing melee.

David

Smart at a young age.

Not to worry it is just the battle of Culloden being replayed.

http://www.amazon.com/Culloden-John-...ref=sr_1_1?ie=
UTF8&s=books&qid=1234048371&sr=1-1

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

Ed wrote:
On 05/02/09 23:23, David Hare-Scott wrote:
phorbin wrote:
In article ,
says...

Is tea a herb? Just that, with apologies if it's not exactly OT.
Oh, there is one more thing: is 'herb' pronounced erb?

Tea is camellia sinensis and it is an herb.

I would not think it is a herb in the botanical sense as it has woody
stems and doesn't die down seasonally.

David

The Rosemary bush in my garden has woody stems and does not die down
seasonally. And yet, Rosemary is a herb!

Ed

Sure it is a medicinal/culinary herb. From Wikipedia:

"In botanical usage a herb or herbaceous plant is any non-woody plant,
regardless of its flavor, scent or other properties. A botanical herb cannot
therefore be a woody plant such as a tree or shrub."

David

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.
--

Billy
Republican and Democratic "Leadership" Behind Bars
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7843430.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net

In article
,
Billy wrote:

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.

What is buck eye good for? Last I read, they were toxic.
--
Peace! Om

"Criminals thrive on the indulgence of societies understanding."

-- From "Batman Begins"

In article ,
says...
In article
,
Billy wrote:

Somebody has jumped the rails here. An herb is what it does in cooking;
flavor. That would include parsley, rosemary, and bay. A medicinal herb
is an unprocessed plant that has curative properties and includes yarrow
leaves, and buck-eye balls.

What is buck eye good for? Last I read, they were toxic.


Untreated, yes.

Supposedly the saponins can be leeched out and they can be used for food
or coffee substitute.