Savory

• Dried savory is the dehydrated form of savory leaves obtained from savory plants. An aromatic member of the mint family, savory is mainly available in two varieties — summer and winter.
• Savory also goes by other names such as savory spice, seasoning, and herb.
• Flavor profile The spice is sweet, earthy, piney, and peppery, with hints of marjoram, oregano, mint, and thyme
• Both summer and winter savory are native to the Mediterranean region. They have been in use for over 2,000 years in cooking and medicinal purposes, long before the coming of black pepper.
• Ancient Romans called savory the herb of love and believed it had aphrodisiac properties. Since World War 2, some Germans have used the herb as a substitute for pepper. The herb is also a viable salt substitute in some cuisines.
• The spice is ideal in marinades, dry rubs, sauces, stews, soups, and salad dressings.
• Dried savory is available in two forms — as crushed whole leaves or savory powder made from dried ground savory leaves.
• Flavor profile

Like other herbs in the mint family, savory has a complex flavor profile. The spice is sweet, earthy, piney, and peppery, with hints of marjoram, oregano, mint, and thyme.

• Savory spice adds a minty, peppery flavor to meat dishes such as chicken, lamb, pork, duck, goose, turkey, and beef. It also renders this flavor to rice dishes, lentils, cabbage dishes such as sauerkraut, and bean dishes like Peruvian black bean soup.
• Nutritional Benefits of dried savory
• The rosmarinic acid in summer savory has antioxidant, immunostimulating, and anti-inflammatory effects. It may also have anti-cancer and pain-relieving properties.
• The savory spice contains vitamins A, B, C, thiamin, and niacin. Vitamin C is essential in boosting the immune system.
• Savory spice is also a great source of minerals, including iron, calcium, manganese, potassium, selenium, magnesium, and zinc.
• The thymol in the savory herb is an essential oil with proven antifungal and antiseptic properties.
• The dietary fiber in savory may help reduce bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol levels.
• Savory may also help with digestive issues such as diarrhea, indigestion, and colic.