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History
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Historically, savory has a reputation for regulating
sex drive. Winter Savory is said to decrease sex
drive, while Summer Savory is said to enhance it. Romans used Savory as an herb and seasoning even before they used pepper.
They used it as a medicine, a bee sting treatment, and an aphrodisiac. When
the Romans brought it to England, it was used as an ingredient in stuffing
rather than as an herbal remedy.
Growing
Savory & Varieties
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Summer Savory is an annual herb, Satureja hotenis, belonging to the mint
family. Its dark-green, narrow leaves are dried and crushed.
Appearance: Narrow, dark
green, spice-scented leaves on low,
bushy plants up to 18 inches high.
They are topped with tiny, pale pink
flowers in summer.
Growing Know-How: Plant summer savory in
well-drained, moderately fertile soil and full sun.
Space plants 12 inches apart. To ensure fresh summer
savory all season, start a second crop in early
summer for late harvests.
Propagation: You can start summer savory
from seed, sowing it outdoors in spring. Or start
seeds 4 to 6 weeks early indoors.
Potential Problems: Prevent root rot by
providing good drainage.
Related Herbs: Winter savory (S. montana)
is grown as a perennial in zones 5 to 9. It has
foliage similar to summer savory but is spicier and
evergreen in mild climates. The plant forms a mat 12
inches high. White flowers appear in late summer. You
can propagate winter savory by layering or cuttings.
A low-growing form, creeping winter savory (S.
montana 'Procumbens'), is also available.
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Medicinal
- Savory contains oils and tannins that
have mild astringent and antiseptic properties that can be useful
in medicines. Summer Savory is the type most often used for
medicinal purposes.
Teas
can be made for occasional colic, diarrhea, indigestion,
flatulence, stomach upsets, mild sore throats, and as an
expectorant. It is also sometimes used in a tea by diabetics to
alleviate excessive thirst. Capsules
can also be made from
dried leaves for internal use.
Externally, rubbing a sprig of Savory
on wasp or bee stings provides instant relief. Try using an
ointment
made of Savory for minor rashes and skin irritations.
Cooking
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Try savory as a substitute for black
pepper. Harvest summer
savory as you need it. The rich aroma will be most intense just
before the plant flowers. Use it fresh or dried for a pleasant
sweet, spicy flavor to vegetables, meats, pastas, and
rice.
A favourite for tossing with beans and adding to
soups. Add a bite of summer savory in
salads, lettuce salads, potato salads, whatever and served
chopped as a topping to hot dishes. You can also use the leaves in tea.
Recipes
Anasazi
Bean Stew with Cornmeal Dumplings
Bacon-Asparagus Quiche
Baked
Cod with Stuffing
Canadian
Pea Soup
Cheesy
Herb Bread
Evergreen
Spaghetti
Fava Bean
and Salt Cod Salad
Lentils
with Summer Vegetables
Pickled
Green Beans with Savory
Roast
Goose with Wild Rice, Hazelnuts and Apple
Savory
Fruit Compote
Savory
Tenderloin with Red Currant Sauce
Southwestern Style Pinto Beans
Veal Pot
Roast
Winter
Tomato Bisque
more recipes with Savory
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