Uses of dittany of Crete (origanum dictamnus)
Last summer I went to Crete for a short vacation, and came back with fond memories of the local cuisine.
Before leaving I bought some spices, among them a small bag of diktamo (dittany, or dictamnus).
While the smell is quite nice, I found that it doesn't impart any discernible flavour to dishes.
I tried it in some recipes that call for oregano (homemade pizza, some pasta sauces), but I'm curious as to its use in Greek cuisine; maybe I'm just using it the wrong way.
Best Answer
In Greece we use diktamo mostly for tea, as beverage. You can try it by boiling water in a jar and put 5-10gr diktamo for 5-10 minutes. Other uses as any other tea leaves. For example you can boil milk or 35% milk cream and put diktamo and then use the milk or cream to make pastry cream or ganache or any other similar.
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Quick Answer about "Uses of dittany of Crete (origanum dictamnus)"
Historically ancient, dittany of Crete plants have been around since Minoan times and utilized for everything from a cosmetic hair and skin treatment to a medicinal salve or tea for digestive problems, healing of wounds, easing childbirth and rheumatism and even to cure snake bites.What is dictamnus used for?
It is a therapeutic and aromatic plant that grows wild only on the mountainsides and gorges of the Greek island of Crete. It is widely used for food flavouring and medicinal purposes, in addition to featuring as an ornamental plant in gardens.Is dittany of Crete edible?
You will find it growing wild along rocky slopes, mountainsides and grassy gorges. It is particularly aromatic and has a long history of being used as a culinary and healing herb. Due to its small native population, dittany of Crete is listed as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red list of threatened species.What is Greek dittany?
Dittany (Origanum dictamnus) (Greek: diktamos, erontas) is an endemic herb of Crete, the most famous of all, which is mainly used as a tea and as a therapeutic sip. Its name is taken after the Dikti Range (Lassithi Mountains), though it is also met in all ranges of Crete.Is dittany of Crete poisonous?
Virgil reported that injured wild goats would seek out the plant for healing. As Dittany's reputation grew, legends stated that consuming the herb would cause injuries to heal immediately\u2014even expel arrows from wounds, cause poison to leave the body, banish venomous snakes to their dens, etc., etc.Dittany Of Crete (Origanum Dictamnus)
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Answer 2
Looking at Wikipedia, I found that apart from oregano, this plant has several flavour compounds in common with thyme and cumin. You could try combining it with those flavours, or using it in a context where thyme or cumin would make sense. Wikipedia (both the English as well as the Greek page) also suggests brewing a herbal tea from this with some supposed medicinal benefits.
Answer 3
is often use as an aromatic component in the production of vermout, liquors and parfumes. due to his antiseptic propertie it can alsobe brewed and consumed as a natural remedy for cold, mouth infection and improve digestion
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