Can sagebrush (tumbleweed) be used for cooking?

Question

I just returned from the interior of British Colombia, sagebrush grows everywere in the lowlands, I stoped and picked some, it smells quite strong, just wondered if it's good to cook with?

Answer 1

Not sure if it is okay for cooking, but just want to clarify something for you.

Sagebrush and tumbleweed are NOT the same thing. I forget the name of the ones that become tumbleweeds at the moment (sorry) but sagebrush is sagebrush and it is actually a bush that stays and continues growing.

Tumbleweeds are a type of weed that come up and when the wind blows, it knocks them off their stems and they blow around all over the place, "tumbling" from place to place.

Anyway, not sure how to find out if it is okay to cook with sagebrush, but I don't think it is. It is not the same thing as the herb/spice sage.

I know that a lot of Native Americans (Indians) use it for some types of ceremonial uses (but they don't eat it or smoke it). I can't imagine that it would taste very good in cooking - it is just too strong and bitter.

Answer 2

Tumbleweed isn't sage. We make smudge sticks out of local sage to keep away evil spirits, never used it in cooking, but why not.

Answer 3

It can be but is indeed stronger than garden sage. It is not however tumbleweed. That is russian thistle, the only use I know for that is when baled green for (poor) winter animal feed.

Answer 4

I live in an area where Sage grows wild. It's great for cooking, but remember that when it's fresh, it doesn't take much.

Answer 5

Don't know. But make sure you clean off all that got caught up in it as it tumbled along...

Answer 6

No, it burns too hot.