Greek Herbs and Spices - Mint (Dyosmos)

 Continuing our occasional series on Greek Herbs and Spices with Mint - known as Dyosmos (soft d) in Greek.

Dyosmos is used a lot in Greek cooking, both in dried or fresh form, though fresh is preferred and many people just grow their own. As well as being used in herbal teas, it is can be used in a variety of dishes - cheese dishes to tomato-based sauces, meats, and rice dishes.

Dyosmos in tea is said to help calm stomach upsets and also aids digestion. The fresh leaves can relieve headaches and itching when rubbed on the forehead and skin.

The word 'mint' comes from Menthe, the name of a nymph that Hades - ruler of the underworld - supposedly fell in love with. His wife Persephone became jealous and started trampling on her. In order to save Menthe, Hades transformed her into a shrub and Persephone was satisfied as she thought that everyone would just trample on her, but Hades gave her a sweet fragrance that he would enjoy every time he passed by her.

Image: Wikipedia Commons

3.2 Metre Basil Plant In Greece - Tallest Ever?

 Image: Wikipedia Commons


Owners of a 3.2 metre Basil plant in Ierapetra on the Greek island of Crete are claiming that it should go into the Guinness Book of Records.

Mrs Anastasia Grigoraki claims that her basil has been helped by the rich soil and the fact that it is sheltered from the wind by the blocks of flats around it. The Guinness record for a basil plant stands at 2.10 metres at the moment, but Mrs Grigoraki's plant - which has been growing for 10 months, and is still growing - is much taller than that.

You can see the height of the plant in the photo below, which is from the online Crete newspaper Nea Kriti. If you can read Greek, then do follow the link!

Basil was first introduced to Greece about 4000 years ago, when Alexander the Great brought it back from India. You can read our post about Basil here.

All I can say is there must be a wonderful aroma coming from that huge plant!

 Image: Nea Kriti

 

Greek Herbs And Spices - Marjoram (Mantzourana)

 Image: Wikipedia Commons

Marjoram - called Mantzourana in Greek - is a shrub with sweet pine and citrus flavours. Indigenous to the Mediterranean area, it can be used fresh or dry. It is similar to oregano, but milder and slightly sweeter.

It can be used with most meat dishes as well as fish and tomato dishes and salad dressings.

Although not certain, it is most probable that marjoram originated in Greece. In Ancient Greece it was planted on the graves of beloved ones in order that they would enjoy eternal peace and happiness. Hippocrates also used it medicinally.

Ancient Greeks also made head wreaths from marjoram for wedding couples, symbolising love, honour and happiness.

Greek Herbs And Spices - Wild Fennel (Maratho)

Image: Wikipedia Commons

Continuing our series of posts about Greek herbs and spices, let's take a look at wild fennel or maratho as it is called in Greek.

Fennel is used especially in Greek pies - pites - but is also used to flavour meat, seafood and vegetable dishes. It is similar in taste and aroma to anise, but is quite different. It is a perennial herb, with feathery leaves and quite similar in appearance to dill.

Origins: One version suggests that the ancient Greeks called the herb maratho from the Greek word maraino (grow thin). It was believed that maratho was conducive to strength, courage and a long life.

Another suggestion is that it was named maratho to commemorate the battle of Marathon (490 BC), which was fought against the Persians in a field of fennel. The word Marathon means 'place of fennel'.

In Greek mythology, the stalk of a fennel plant was used by Prometheus to steal fire from the gods and the Bacchanalian wands of the god Dionysus and his followers were said to have come from the giant fennel.

Some Examples of Greek Pies with Fennel

These are some examples of Greek Pies (Pites) which use fennel. Just click on the links to go to the recipes.

Spinach Pie (Spanakopita)

Zucchini Pie (Kolokithopita)

Mince and Leek Pie (Prasopita me Kima)

Greek Herbs and Spices - Dill (Anitho)

Continuing our series on herbs and spices, we come to Dill - Anitho as it is called in Greek. This is a feathery type of plant and you can see it on the photo above as a garnish for Tzatziki. 

Dill can be used as flavouring in oil and vinegar, as well as being used in several fish, meat, soup and vegetable dishes, being added at the last minute so as not to lose its flavour. 

It is an aromatic herb, but is not spicy and goes well with cucumber and avgolemono sauce. Chopped dill can also be used in salads. Dill tea is supposedly beneficial to those suffering from insomnia.

Ancient Greeks used it to flavour their wine, according to Dioscurides, and to prepare anethinon wine. Soldiers - Greek and Roman - used it for medicinal purposes by placing the burned seeds on wounds to aid healing.

Greek Herbs and Spices - Bay Leaf (Daphni)

Image: Wikipedia Commons

This is the second in the series of posts on herbs and spices used in Greek cooking.

Bay laurel leaves are called Daphni (soft d) in Greek and has been cultivated since the time of the ancient Greek writer and philosopher Homer. In his Odyssey he mentions bay laurel as a herb and medicine used by Ulysses.

It is usually the dried bay leaves that are used, though fresh leaves can also be used, and are common as a herb in Greek cooking - especially in dishes with plenty of tomato. The leaves are removed before serving.

The origin of the name and the history are particularly interesting. The Greek name Daphni comes from the eponymous nymph, who was daughter of the river god Peneios (Lathonas) and earth goddes Gi. Her parents transformed her into a bay laurel tree (daphni) so as to escape the god Apollo and keep her virginity.

It was used for laurel wreaths - a symbol of high status - in ancient Greece, and was also given as the prize at the Pythian Games because the games were in honour of Apollo - the laurel was one of his symbols.When he slayed the dragon Python at Delphi he is said to have made a crown of victory from laurel, hence the presenting of 'crowns of victory' at the Pythian and Olympian games. The Oracle of Delphi and priestess of Apollo, Pythia, is also said to have chewed bay leaves before making her proclamations.


As well as its use in cooking, the bay laurel is also said to have healing properties. Its essential oil is said to alleviate arthritis and rheumatism with massage, and is used to treat earaches and high blood pressure in aromatherapy.  Additionally, a poultice soaked in boiled bay leaves is a folk remedy for rashes caused by poison ivy, poison oak, and stinging nettle.

Greek Herbs and Spices - Basil (Vasiliko)

 Image: Wikipedia Commons

This is the first of a series of posts on herbs and spices used in Greek cooking. We're going to keep it in alphabetical order.

The word Basil comes from the Greek word Vasiliko, which is what it is still called in Greece today, meaning royal. It is believed to have grown above the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross in 330 AD and it has been speculated that it may have been used in "some royal unguent, bath, or medicine" (Oxford English Dictionary).

In ancient Greece Hippocrates regarded basil as beneficial to the heart and prescribed it for treatment of constipation and as an anti-emetic.

It also has religious significance. Many Greeks bring basil plants as gifts to the church and the priest will bless the plants for the health and prosperity of people's homes. The Greek Orthodox Church also uses it to prepare holy water. The ancient Greeks, along with the Egyptians, believed that if basil was placed in the hands of a dead person, it would ensure a safe journey and open the gates of heaven for them.