Savory and thyme are often confused, as their Russian names sound similar; however, the plants are different, even though their aromas are alike. Rub a small leaf of savory between your fingers and you will feel the amazing spicy scent of Mediterranean spices. Savory owes its fragrance to its unique chemical composition:
- Carvacrol - a phenol and a natural antibiotic (it destroys the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus and helminths). Recently, the production of soaps, laundry detergents, medical bandages, and sprays with carvacrol has begun.
- Thymol - an essential oil with an aromatic smell, which is used in perfumery and cooking (found in caraway, coriander, anise, eucalyptus, and others).
- Borneol - a fragrant substance, a component of perfume compositions.
- Cineole - a component of essential oil, an antiseptic and expectorant, an aromatic component of synthetic essential oils, has a camphor-like smell.
Savory essential oil has antioxidant properties, enhances the concentration of beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain, and reduces the risk of developing oncological diseases.
As a spice, savory should be added a minute before cooking is done, so the herb doesn’t become bitter. Be careful not to overpower your dish—savory has a very intense aroma and flavor.
Vitamins:
- Vitamin A (retinol) 257 mcg
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine) 0.37 mg
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 1.81 mg
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 50 mg
- Vitamin PP (niacin) 4.08 mg
Macro and microelements:
- Potassium 1051 mg
- Calcium 2132 mg
- Magnesium 377 mg
- Sodium 24 mg
- Phosphorus 140 mg
- Iron 37.88 mg
- Manganese 6.1 mg
- Copper 850 mcg
- Selenium 4.6 mcg
- Zinc 4.3 mg
Savory relieves stomach cramps and has carminative properties. It has choleretic and diuretic effects, treating inflammatory processes in the kidneys caused by bacteria (thanks to carvacrol).
This spice is not difficult to grow at home on a windowsill .
