Herbs and Spices

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) - so called from Basilis - 'King' in Greek - does indeed have a very royal aroma and is a herb fit for Kings.

Cretan Basil is potent and delicious. Basil can be used in all kinds of savoury dishes and is of course a great herb for pesto. We use it fresh or dried to make pesto (see our reel 'Hey Pesto!' on Instagram).

Basil also has health benefits; it contains eugenol which blocks calcium channels and magnesium; it helps to  lower  blood pressure, prevent heart disease reduce levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. 

All our herbs are air dried in the shade to preserve their flavour. Check out our other Cretan herbs which include bay leaves, dittany,  mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender. Soil Association licence number 30695.

Daphne Apollonius, otherwise known as Bay Leaf, in ancient Greece was dedicated to the God Apollo. It has connotations of glory and supremacy.  Widely used in cooking, wonderfully particularly stews, sauces, lentils and sea food. It also makes a delicious infused oil with extra virgin olive oil.

Wild organic oregano collected from the mountains of Crete. The oregano leaves and flowers are air dried in the shade to preserve flavour and health properties. They are then crushed into fine flakes for use in cooking and on salads. The oregano is richly aromatic and will infuse your kitchen with delicious mouth watering smells.

Other wild and hand harvested herbs available include basil, bay leaves, dittany,  mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender. 

Take a look at the process here: Stavia collecting wild sage from the Cretan mountain

Wild organic rosemary from Crete collected from mountain tops and hill sides by shepherds and women including Stavia! The rosemary stems are air dried in the shade to preserve flavour and health properties. This rosemary is richly aromatic and will infuse your kitchen with delicious mouth watering smells. Use on roast lamb or other meat dishes, and to embellish grilled fish.

Other wild and hand harvested herbs available include basil, bay leaves, dittany,  mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, and lavender. 

And if you are looking for ready made herb and spice mixes to flavour your favourite Greek dishes, head over to our herb mixes section.

Take a look at the process here: Stavia collecting wild sage from the Cretan mountain

Our wild Cretan sage is hand picked from the Cretan mountains during the late Spring and early Summer and then dried in the shade. Greece has more than 20 varieties of Sage. The two found in Crete are the  trilobed Sage ((Salvia fruticosa - used as a tea and in cooking) and the apple sage ((Salvia pomifera -  so called because it forms apple like swellings in parts of the stem in response to the stings from certain types of wasps!) - used both as a tea and in cooking but also as an insect repellant for stored foods.

Sage is closely intertwined with the ancient culture of Crete. Ancient Greek writers Dioscorides, Aetius, Hippocrates, and Galen all reported on its use in healing. Scientific research confirms that Sage does indeed have numerous important health benefits due to its antibacterial antioxidant, anti-diabetic properties. It may be beneficial in prevention and treatment of infllamation, obesity, diabetes, depression, neurodegenerative disease (dementia), heart disease and cancer; it is recognised as a natural treatment for menopausal symptoms . Traditionall in Greece - and in many other places in the world where it grows -  sage tea is used for  indigestion and inflammation of the mouth and throat, the relief of excessive sweating, and inflammation of the skin. Older Cretans will still be seen chewing on a leaf of sage for oral hygiene.  Burning dried sage leaves is traditionally used to purify the air. 

Sage tea: made by placing 2-3 leaves into a cup of boiled water, and adding honey to taste. Caffeine free!

Cooking with Sage: In Greek cuisine, sage is used to flavour chicken, and in marinades for pork and beef, and in sausages. A famous recipe is pork with sage and honey. 

As with any herbal medicinal agent, it is advisable to use sage in moderation as if taken in excess it can have stimulant effects (it contains Thujone). 

Wild organic thyme from Crete collected from the Cretan mountains. The thyme leaves and flowers are air dried in the shade to preserve flavour and health properties. The thyme is richly aromatic and will infuse your kitchen with delicious mouth watering smells.

Other wild and hand harvested herbs available include basil, bay leaves, dittany,  mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, and lavender. 

And if you are looking for ready made herb and spice mixes to flavour your favourite Greek dishes, head over to our herb mixes section.

Take a look at the process here: Stavia collecting wild sage from the Cretan mountain

Product description

High grade organic turmeric, black pepper, ginger and amla (emblica officinalis), from Yamilnadu, India. Each capsule contains 450mg, with 410mg turmeric, 15mg black pepper , 10mg ginger and 15mg amla. Curcumin content is 3.5%.

Turmeric and Amla are very familiar plant derivatives in India considered to contain medicinal properties. For example, curcumin is a major component of turmeric known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant properties [see here]. Similarly, gallic acid, gallotannin, ellagic acid, and corilagin are some of the important constituents of amla and are also reported to possess several medicinal properties, for example, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, free radical scavenging, and antioxidant [see here].

The black pepper and ginger enhance the absorption of turmeric, whilst adding additional health benefits of their own. 

Ingredients

Organic turmeric 410mg, organic ginger 15mg, organic black pepper 10mg, organic amla 15mg; capsule is plant-derived HPMC (Hydroxypropyl- methylcellulose)

Traditional Greek mountain teas with island variations.  All the traditional herbs used in the blends are hand picked and air dried in the shade. Delicious at any time of day with a spoonful of Greek honey. We have also made some of our own variations !

The herbs used are renowned for their health benefits. To read more about these, please see our blogs on the subjects. 

Wild mint from Crete collected from the Cretan mountains. The mint leaves are air dried in the shade to preserve flavour and health properties. The mint is common mint, richly aromatic and will infuse your kitchen with delicious mouth watering smells.

Other wild and hand harvested herbs available include basil, bay leaves,  oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender. 

And if you are looking for ready made herb and spice mixes to flavour your favourite Greek dishes, head over to our herb mixes section.

Take a look at the process here: Stavia collecting wild sage from the Cretan mountain

Organic Liquorice root from Greece, chopped into small pieces, ideal for infusion in tea or in cooking.

Other wild and hand harvested herbs available include basil, bay leaves, dittany, mint  oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender. 

And if you are looking for ready made herb and spice mixes to flavour your favourite Greek dishes, head over to our herb mixes section.

Take a look at the process here: Stavia collecting wild sage from the Cretan mountain

Wild culinary lavender from Crete, ideal for infusion in tea or in cooking.

Other wild and hand harvested herbs available include basil, bay leaves, dittany, mint  oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and liquorice. 

And if you are looking for ready made herb and spice mixes to flavour your favourite Greek dishes, head over to our herb mixes section.

Take a look at the process here: Stavia collecting wild sage from the Cretan mountain

Turmeric milk latte mix, made with all organic ingredients, in combinations aimed at maximising benefits and absorption of active ingredients.

• contains 50% double strength organic turmeric, whey protein from grass-fed cows, black pepper, coriander, cinnamon, ginger
• no added sugar - contains natural prebiotic organic sweeteners - erythritol and stevia

Directions: mix 1 teaspoon of powder with a little of your favourite warm or cold milk until the powder is well dissolved; top up with 200ml remaining milk and sweeten to taste (we like adding a touch of honey and cinnamon)