Lovage has been grown as a herb in Europe for hundreds of years. The flavour of its leaves and stem are like intense celery with touch of anise and a hint of sweetness. Dried lovage seeds are slightly sweeter than the leaves, and make an excellent substitute for celery seeds in recipes that call for them. The chopped leaves are very nice raw or added to salads, soups, stews, and sandwiches. Lovage is yet another garden food plant that was once thought to have aphrodisiac qualities, and it is included in nearly every available list of companion plants as improving the flavour and health of all garden vegetables.