Savory Oil (Winter Type)

(Satureja montana)

GENERAL DISCRIPTION A bushy perennial subshrub up to 40 cms high with woody stems at the base, linear leaves and pale purple flowers.

DISTRIBUTION Native to the Mediterranean region, now found all over Europe.

HERBAL / FOLK TRADITION It has been used as a culinary herb since atniquity, much in the same way as summer savory. It was used as a digestive remedy especially good for colic, and in Germany it is used particularly for diarrhoea.

When compared against many varieties of thyme, rosemary and lavender, recent research has shown ‘the net superiority of the antimicrobial properties of essence of savory.’

EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the whole herb. (An oleoresin is also produced by solvent extraction.)

CHARACTERISTICS A colourless or pale yellow liquid with a sharp, medicinal, herbaceous odour.

AROMATHERAPY / HOME USE None. ‘Should not be used on the skin at all.’

OTHER USES Occasionally used in perfumery work. The oil and oleoresin are employed to some extent in flavouring, mainly meats and seasonings.

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