Salty Herbs?

We recently planted some Basil and Oregano, and tonight since we were having Italian, I figured I'd snip off a few leaves of each.  I rinsed them off well and then chopped them up finely...and my sauce turned out REALLY salty.  We use no-salt tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, and don't add any salt on our own, so I'm wondering if I did something wrong with the fresh herbs or if they are supposed to be a bit on the salty side.  Other items I add are a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce (which I know is salty, but that doesn't usually make my sauce salty), cinnamon, chili powder, and fresh ground pepper. 

Any ideas?

It won't be the herbs... I'd say it's the combo of the Worcestershire sauce and likely the diced tomatoes.  Many cans of tomatoes are loaded in salt.

Are you sure it tasted salty and not acidic, canned tomatoes can have a strong acid taste? Some people have an issue tasting the difference.
Did you try adding a teaspoon of sugar? You can also try using bicarb right at the end of sugar to neutralize the acid.

A carrot will also reduce acidity.

I doubt herbs would be salty, have you tried chewing a leaf?

It won't be the herbs... I'd say it's the combo of the Worcestershire sauce and likely the diced tomatoes.  Many cans of tomatoes are loaded in salt.

I use low-salt diced tomatoes and sauce, and used the same amount of Worcestershire I always used though....the only thing new was these darn herbs. but I guess if the Worcester was going off it might have been saltier?

I doubt herbs would be salty, have you tried chewing a leaf?

No, I haven't tried chewing a leaf. I guess that's an option to figure it out, though! 

I am not sure about in the US, but in the UK chilli powder has salt in it.  Maybe the kind you got was more salt than you are used to at home?  Ground chilli does not. 

I am not sure about in the US, but in the UK chilli powder has salt in it.  Maybe the kind you got was more salt than you are used to at home?  Ground chilli does not. 

True it could be that they hide salt in all sorts of places.

Also could be the bitter thing that MaryKate is talking about.

Are you sure it tasted salty and not acidic, canned tomatoes can have a strong acid taste? Some people have an issue tasting the difference.
Did you try adding a teaspoon of sugar? You can also try using bicarb right at the end of sugar to neutralize the acid.

A carrot will also reduce acidity.

I doubt herbs would be salty, have you tried chewing a leaf?

I'm with MaryKate on this.  Unless you soaked/rinsed the herbs in salt water before chopping them, there's no way they would truly be salty.

I'm with MaryKate on this.  Unless you soaked/rinsed the herbs in salt water before chopping them, there's no way they would truly be salty.

Also the ratio of herbs:tomato sauce means that they probably wouldn't be able to make the sauce salty even if they were really salty.
 

I am not sure about in the US, but in the UK chilli powder has salt in it.  Maybe the kind you got was more salt than you are used to at home?  Ground chilli does not. 

I don't know if the one my mom bought does or not, since she dumps it into tupperware spice containers.

Surprisingly, heating up leftovers for lunch did NOT have a salty taste, so maybe it was something weird with my taste buds last night!

Surprisingly, heating up leftovers for lunch did NOT have a salty taste, so maybe it was something weird with my taste buds last night!

the most likely explanation!