Savory: The Most Important Information at a Glance

Everything about mountain savory

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Savory: The Roman's spice

The savory originates from Southern Europe and has shaped the history and culture there for thousands of years. It is used in numerous Roman recipes. Here, savory has been spread through monastery gardens.

Occurrence of savory

Savory (Satureja montana), also known as winter savory, is a member of the mint family that is native to Southern Europe. The plant grows particularly richly in the Mediterranean region and the Balkans. It thrives on dry, rocky slopes at altitudes of up to 1500 meters.

Light, calcareous soils provide an ideal foundation for savory. It thrives excellently in dryness and low nutrient content. If you want to grow the herb yourself, choose a warm and sheltered spot in the sun.

Effects of savory

With its strong, spicy flavor, winter savory is perfect for bean dishes. Additionally, pure essential oil Saturejae Atheroleum can be extracted from it. In naturopathy, the herb has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract especially in cases of bloating and cramps. For this reason, it is added to many restaurants' game dishes: it is said to facilitate digestion and enhance flavor.

Drink it as tea by pouring one liter of boiling water over 100 grams of dried herbs and letting it steep for ten minutes. Savory is also used as a bath additive. It could be beneficial for the respiratory tract, especially in cases of cough.

Savory is often compared to thyme - their aroma and properties are similar. If you want to pick wild savory, you will notice how surprisingly similar thyme plants look to savory.

Ingredients of savory

Numerous ingredients contribute to the aroma and effects on humans. The essential oil is the main carrier of the beneficial effects and aroma. It contains, among other things:

Carvacrol
Cymol
Dipentene
Phenols
Thymol

Additionally, the tanning and bitter substances are important. Over time, these have been increasingly bred out of our diet, which is why many people show a deficiency of these substances. Therefore, additional intake through vital herbs like savory can be sensible.

Appearance of the evergreen summer savory

Theevergreen summer savory shrub grows between 10 and 40 centimeters high, rarely up to 70. You can distinguish winter savory from summer savory by the absence of the purple sheen found on the latter. It forms upright stemsthat become woody and branch out. They bear narrow leaves. The flowering period extends from August to September, during which small lip flowers in white, pink, and violet appear.

Plant summer savory yourself

If you want to plant summer savory yourself, choose asunny and warm location that is as sheltered from the wind as possible. Balconies, especially in big cities, are ideal. The soil should be calcareous, light, and loose. As a rule of thumb, the soil should be drier rather than wet.

The herb is sown from April to May. Even in August, the seeds can still be planted. Summer savory is a light germinator, which should only be lightly covered with soil; without light, the seed cannot germinate. Until germination occurs, keep the seeds moist without waterlogging. The distance between the seeds should be about 30 cm.

The harvest can be done before or during flowering. The spice is clearly strongest during flowering, while the content of essential oils is highest just before flowering. Cut the branches just above the ground and hang them upside down to dry. You can then enjoy it with savory meat dishes and with beans, potatoes, and stews.

Let summer savory ferment for the best quality

One canferment dried herbsto enhance their quality. This is why fermentation is also referred to as refinement. For this, microorganisms in the herbs are activated anaerobically. They initiate biochemical processes that would lead to a mold process without air.

You can easily ferment summer savory by placing it in a airtight glass container and controlling humidity and temperature. This leads to enzymatic reactions, similar to the fermentation of salami or black tea. After fermentation, herbs have more and stronger flavors.

Entertaining facts about summer savory

Evergreen mountain bean herb is spicier than summer bean herb and can be harvested year-round. Thehighest content of essential oil is reached by the plant just before and during flowering. Cut the branches just above the ground and hang them upside down to dry. Store them in closed containers to preserve the flavor.

Mountain bean herb: Frequently asked questions

Is thyme and mountain bean herb the same?

No, they are not the same, but they are related. Thymes, like mountain bean herb, belong to the mint family. Mountain bean herb visually resembles thyme very closely, but you can distinguish the plants by the intense aroma of mountain bean herb. Interestingly, thyme, like mountain bean herb, is evergreen.

Can flowering mountain bean herb be used?

Flowering mountain bean herb can and should be eaten, extracted, and used. The plant can be harvested year-round, but it has the highest content of essential oils just before and during flowering. So if you are looking for intense aroma, this phase is recommended for harvesting. If you want to buy mountain bean herb, it is worth paying attention to the harvest time.

What is mountain bean herb used for?

Mountain bean herb is thespiciest representative of the bean herbs. Therefore, it is particularly favored in hearty dishes such as stews, bean dishes, and game . Other bean herbs taste milder and less intense.
As a vital plant, mountain bean herb is used for respiratory complaints and stomach and intestinal issues .

Is marjoram the same as bean herb?

Marjoram does not necessarily resemble mountain bean herb, but it does resemble common bean herb. Marjoram also belongs to the mint family, so it is related to bean herbs. Visually, bean herb and marjoram are very similar - comparable to the similarity of mountain bean herb to thyme. However, marjoram is considered to have more healing properties than common bean herb.

Can mountain bean herb be used fresh?

Yes, please! The fresher the mountain bean herb is, the more essential oils and secondary plant compounds it contains. An exception can be high-quality fermentation: Let the mountain bean herb ferment in a closed container at constant humidity and temperature, it can be refined. As the herb dries gently, essential oils and secondary plant compounds remain, effectively increasing the denseness of vital substances.

What are good preparations with mountain savory?

Mountain savory is most commonly taken as a spice . It can enrich hearty and aromatic dishes. As a vital plant , mountain savory is usually taken as essential oil . You can purchase essential mountain savory oil online and also locally at pharmacies or health food stores.

Did Hildegard of Bingen use mountain savory?

Yes, the Holy Abbess Hildegard of Bingen has already used mountain savory. She recommended it, for example, along with other herbs like sage and caraway for trembling limbs. However, she also recognized its beneficial properties for digestion.

Does mountain savory have aphrodisiac effects?

Mountain savory is attributed with aphrodisiac properties , but scientifically, these cannot be proven in any way. In the case of aphrodisiacs, individual personal and psychological factors play an important role, making it difficult to verify whether the smell and taste of mountain savory have aphrodisiac effects.

Are there specific plants that thrive well next to mountain savory?

Although it may seem ironic at first glance: Beans can be excellently grown next to mountain savory. Feel free to try it in your home vegetable/herb garden. Otherwise, mountain savory can serve as good ground cover or underplanting for other plants and beds, preventing weeds from growing in them.

By the way: Those who grow strawberries and mountain savory will quickly notice that mountain savory tends to grow alongside strawberries.

Can bed borders be made from mountain savory?

Mountain savory is an ideal bed border. Within a few weeks, it forms a hedge around your bed. The only downside is that the growth may be too fast, and you may need to trim the hedge more often. However, mountain savory harmonizes perfectly as a bed border with the plants in the bed, as mountain savory itself is a vital plant.

About the author Henrik Aulbach

Henrik Aulbach is an experienced health editor with over 10 years of experience, an expert in plant-based active ingredients and cultivation, co-founder, book author, and freelance copywriter in healthcare since 2020.

Learn more about this author here .