Herbs & Spices

Greek herbs: when they are picked and how long they keep

Oregano and mountain tea are cut while in flower, in mid-summer, when their essential oils peak — which is why good Greek oregano is fragrant before you even rub it. Dittany grows only on Crete, mastiha only in southern Chios (PDO), and Kozani saffron (PDO) is picked by hand over a few weeks in October and November. Dried herbs hold their aroma for roughly a year in a dark, tightly closed jar.