Dictamus, or Cretan oregano, is a plant inherent only in the flora of Crete, which has been revered since ancient times for its extraordinary properties. It is not surprising that it is in Crete that many plants with unique properties grow, because the island’s ecosystem itself is unique.
Dictamus grows in hard-to-reach places – on cliffs, in ravines, rocky gorges. This is an ancient plant, the first mention of it is more than two thousand years old. According to mythological legends, Aphrodite herself collected it on the slopes of Crete, therefore, to this day, dictamus is considered a plant of love, there is a tradition to give it to lovers.
Ancient healers believed that an infusion of dictamus was able to heal from any disease, to facilitate childbirth. Legends extremely rarely appear without any basis for their origin, and although the belief in the saving and universal healing properties of dictamus should be treated with a fair amount of healthy skepticism, one should not deny the beneficial properties of this miracle herb.
It is believed that the shoots of this plant are eaten by injured animals to heal their wounds.
Cretan oregano is indeed a very useful plant. When administered orally, a decoction of dictamus is an excellent fortifying agent, stimulates metabolic processes in the body, and regulates gastrointestinal activity. In addition, the plant has a certain anesthetic effect, so its infusion can reduce pain in headaches, toothaches, and neuralgic pains. It is also used for eating disorders and colds.
Finally, dictamus tea has a pleasant taste and may well be taken as a tonic drink, instead of coffee and black tea.
Dictamus tea can be brewed or made into an infusion (more concentrated tea with a pronounced taste). A teapot is sufficient for a simple brewing procedure. True, a metal or glass teapot will not work – they give off heat too easily and are not able to maintain the desired temperature of the tea required for full brewing for 15-20 minutes.
Therefore, it is recommended to use a ceramic, porcelain teapot. The dry mixture of dictamus is poured with boiling water at the rate of 1-1,5 teaspoons for each cup of drink and left for 10-15 minutes, after which you can drink tea. If desired, sugar, honey, lemon, and other spices can be added to the resulting tea. The infusion is prepared according to the same principle, but in a thermos, where it is infused for at least two hours.
Cretan oregano gives a rich flavor and aroma, so it can be brewed several times
Sometimes the grass is not steamed, but boiled for 2-3 minutes in a sealed container. The cooled drink has a tart taste and perfectly quenches thirst. The healing properties of such tea are not less than that of brewed tea. Sugar is usually not put in, it is replaced with honey.
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