Pineapple Sage
The pineapple sage plant is found in gardens to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The crushed plant leaves smell like pineapple, hence comes the common name of the pineapple sage plant. The easy care of pineapple sage is one more reason to have it in the garden.
Pineapple sage has a different flavour to common garden sage and it is not considered to be a culinary substitute for normal sage. It is best used fresh to preserve the flavour. Cooking at high temperatures will damage the leaves and the flavour will be lost. Despite this some people recommend using the chopped leaves in herb breads to impart a subtle flavour.
The leaves and flowers are both edible and may be used as part of salads or as garnishes. They are a nice addition to fruit salads as the crushed leaves will impart a pineapple aroma. They can also be used in cold soups, to garnish cool drinks and iced or herbal teas. An interesting idea is to mix chopped leaves with cream cheese for a tasty spread.