Satureja thymbra
Athribi, Nerathribi
The genus Satureja includes over 30 species with a strong aroma reminiscent of thyme and rosemary. The species Satureja thymbra It is quite common throughout the Mediterranean. It blooms from March to June. There are various common names throughout Greece: Throubi, Athrympi, Thympros, Tragorigi, etc.
In Kythira, we call it athribi or nerathribi. In the past, they used the plant to clean the barrels before adding the new must.
It is considered a herb with great therapeutic value, but due to its high content of active ingredients, it must be used with caution. It is used to treat infections, as a warming agent, tonic, aphrodisiac, immune system booster, and to treat hypertension. Its action is similar to that of thyme. Excellent against skin diseases and fungal infections.
As a spice, it adds a distinctive peppery aroma to vegetables and legumes, while also aiding digestion. In German, its name, Bohnenkraut, meaning bean herb, indicates its traditional use with legumes. In the past, it was used as a spice instead of pepper, which is why in some European languages its common names refer to pepper, such as “pepper herb” and "poivrette." It was also used as a food preservative because it prevents the growth of bacteria. Its essential oil is comparable to that of oregano and thyme and is considered by some to be superior in terms of its antibacterial action.
The name satureja was probably first used by Pliny the Elder, who associated it with the Satyrs, companions of Dionysus, the god of wine. Another version considers that the word comes from an Arabic root.
Dioscorides describes the plant under the name thymbra:
“ thymbra; and this too is familiar, growing in rocky and rugged places, similar to thyme, but smaller and more delicate, bearing small, dense, green flowers. It can be used in the same way as thyme and is suitable for healthy consumption. It is also made into a spice, less pungent than the wild variety, but more suitable for eating because it is not so harsh. (3.37)
