If you decide to book one of our
beautiful villas in Istria or Dalmatia, especially in the spring and summer months, you have the opportunity to
discover aromatic herbs that will enchant you with their impeccable scent. We would like to single out the 5
most famous plants you can find in Istria, so let's start :)
The herb
Everlasting or
Immortelle (in Croatian
smilje), is also called the
elixir of youth. It has a
divine and sweet scent, that is very often reminiscent of Indian curry spice. You will recognise it by its
warm yellow color and it can grow up to 60 cm. It grows mostly along rocky areas and the
seaside. What is interesting about this plant is, that even when the twigs are cut and dried, they look as if they have not withered. For this reason, it is often called "imortela", which means immortal. Just like Mozart's eternal symphonies, we believe that these herbs will
give life to your home.
We believe that you have heard of the
famous plant lavender (in Croatian
lavanda), which can be described as a
purple rhapsody, that gives a feeling of
peace and tranquility and is often a decorative plant in your home. If you walk through beautiful Istria or Dalmatia, you can often come across purple lavender fields that are ideal for beautiful photograps. Although it depends on the weather, lavender usually blooms from June until the end of July. It is
ideal as essential oil or in small linen bags. Be sure to take lavender as a souvenir for the home and
enjoy its scent!
The plant that chefs often
combine with fish specialties, to give the food an even richer taste, is the
indispensable rosemary (in Croatian
ruzmarin). Many consider it the healthiest spice. Rosemary can also be in the form of an
essential oil. The name rosemary comes from the Latin name "ros marinus" which means
"sea dew". Its natural habitat is close to the sea so a pleasant family walk by the sea will be ideal.
The next plant we will present to you is the
laurel (in Croatian
lovor), which is said to be a
symbol of eternity,
victory and immortality. It is also an indispensable spice in
dark sauces and meat specialties. Laurel is actually an evergreen tree that can grow up to 8 meters and was considered a
sacred tree in ancient times, that is, the tree of the god Apollo. Interestingly, on an old coin, Apollo was depicted with a laurel wreath on his head.
The last, but no less important, plant is
sage. It is also used as a
spice in various dishes and we would advise you, if you want to see and experience it in full bloom, visit beautiful Istria or Dalmatia in May, when sage blooms and is then in its most beautiful edition. It is one of the most medicinal plants on our planet. In Latin it is called "Salvia officinalis" which means
to save or heal.
You can find most of these
beautiful and aromatic herbs in Istria or Dalmatia by taking a light
walk by the sea, which hereby tells you that the sea has a calming effect not only on plants but also on people. So hurry up and book your villa on our most beautiful peninsula Istria or Dalmatia and engange into
exploring these interesting aromatic plants :)
Jelena Maric
18.3.2022
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
