Kraški šetraj

Latin name Satureja montana

English name Kraški šetraj

Family Lamiaceae

Month of planting III. - IV.
Month of harvest I.-XII.
Light ☀️☀️☀️
Watering little

Description
Kraški šetraj is a permanent plant of strong smell. It grows in the form of a shrub with strongly developed side shoots, up to 40 cm high. At the ground it's a little woody. The leaves are oval, half-edged, 1-2 cm long and 5 mm wide, oppositely placed on the stem. The stem is round and slightly hairy. The flowers are white and twisted. They bloom from June to August. We plant it in March and April. It is harvested the whole year round, with the best results just before flowering and during flowering. It is a very popular pasture for bees. The smell is somewhat similar to pepper, so it was often used instead of it. It originates from south  Europe, Turkey and South Africa.

Growth conditions and habitat

In nature we find it on the warm, stone slopes of the Mediterranean. It needs a lot of heat, but doesn’t require specific soil however  it will grow better in the rusty and nutrient-rich soils.

Culinary use
As for seasoning, it is added to legumes and various meaty dishes (lamb, pork, veal), sausages, fish, salads, mushrooms. It’s known as a stomach cure. It soothes stomach cramps and colic, so it is given to all beans, ewes, potatoes and other dishes that cause bloating. We only add it at the end of cooking. It should also help with intestinal problems and diarrhea, mucous membranes and respiratory infections. With essential oil we treat fungal infections. The leaves can also be chewed, it works as a antibacterial and antiseptic. It is a diuretic, therefore it is used to cleanse the body. Tea was also used to help domestic animals if they had digestive problems. Essential oils, tannins, bitters and phenolic substances are the main ingredients of Šetraj.

Sources:
https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kra%C5%A1ki_%C5%A1etraj
https://www.primorske.si/2014/05/31/kraski-setraj-vraca-mosko-moc-nazaj
https://www.vrtnarava.si/rastline/opisi/zelisca/kraski-setraj

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