AROMATIC PLANTS, WHAT ARE THEIR BENEFITS?

Production and cultivation of aromatic plants

The production methods directly influence the essential oil content of each fresh aromatic plant. Whether grown in open fields or hydroponically, their taste will be distinctly different. Soil, sunlight, and water are the three parameters to consider when cultivating aromatic plants. For example, mint likes shade and humid places, while thyme and rosemary, garrigue plants, thrive better in arid and sunny terrains, where they are more fragrant. The more a plant is grown in conditions similar to its natural environment, the more likely it is to express its full range of aromas and virtues! Another important point: the right time for harvest. Morning harvests, in dry weather, are preferred so that the plants are at the peak of their organoleptic and fresh qualities.

Why consume aromatic herbs?

Primarily for their taste qualities! They are unparalleled in enhancing salads, pasta or rice dishes, steamed or sautéed seasonal vegetables, as well as soups and broths, simply added as a finishing touch. It is best to chop them with scissors or on a cutting board just before serving and mix them with hot or cold preparations without heating them to enjoy their delicate fragrance. While they can certainly be consumed as hot or cold herbal teas, discovering the intensity of their flavor when infused in olive oil allows them to be used daily: thyme, basil, rosemary, mint, lemongrass, and ginger are thus always at hand in the kitchen, for our culinary pleasure. We can thus benefit from their taste and properties in all seasons to season a salad, add a final touch to our favorite pasta dish, or enhance a vegetable stir-fry with them. They can also be combined to create unexpected flavors: they also develop culinary creativity…

How to store your aromatic herbs?

Even when placed in a glass of water, the nutritional and aromatic qualities of a bunch of mint or basil degrade as soon as the plant is cut. It is better to consume them frozen, a technology that preserves their organoleptic qualities. Good to know: ginger and lemongrass keep for a long time in the refrigerator crisper, which does not alter their taste qualities. Thyme and rosemary can be enjoyed fresh or simply dried. Finally, fragrant oils with aromatic plants allow for long-term preservation of the aromas of these plants, making them enjoyable at any time!