The leaves can be used in
salads, or to make
soup or season broths, and the
roots can be eaten as a
vegetable or grated for use in salads. Its flavour and smell are reminiscent both of
celery and
parsley, only more intense and spicy than either. The
seeds can be used as a spice in the same way as
fennel seeds. The plant has long been cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern Europe. and served with boiled eggs. In
Ukraine, lovage (in
Ukrainian любисток/liubystok) is considered an
aphrodisiac. Traditionally, an infusion prepared from lovage leaves has been used by women for rinsing their hair, in order to attract men with the pleasant spicy smell of the plant. Nowadays,
hair conditioners can be bought which contain lovage extract to strengthen the hair. Lovage leaves and roots are also used in salads and as a spice in Ukraine. In
Romania, the leaves are a preferred seasoning for the various local broths and are just as popular, in this respect, as parsley or
dill. Furthermore, the dried foliage and seeds are added to pickled cabbage and cucumbers both to aid in their preservation and to add flavour to them. In the
UK, an alcoholic lovage
cordial is traditionally added to
brandy as a
winter drink and is or was popular in
Cornwall where it was originally added to slightly spoiled smuggled brandy to hide the taste of salt. The roots, which contain a heavy volatile oil, are used as a mild
aquaretic. ==In culture==