Dried herbs from Crete, which we have described recently, is one of the flagship local products. Unfortunately, apart from the aspect of their high quality and amazing aroma, it is worth noting that their collection also has a negative impact on the flora of Crete. So far, many people involved in the production of dried herbs did so in a way too intense and devoid of restraint. Often the amount of collected herbs was far too big in relation to personal needs. However, the situation may change, because with the beginning of this year, regulations regulating the collection of aromatic herbs in Crete came into force.
The applicable legal regulations introduce restrictions on the maximum weight of dried plants harvested by a single person. The directive (DAD ΒΛ45ΟΡ1Θ-ΥΡ9) issued by the Forestry Office and valid until 2018 specifies this value as 500 g of dried for individual use. Such restrictions are primarily to counteract excessive exploitation of natural vegetation, which is now too much depleted in many places.
Mrs. Polymnia Sklavaki (Πολύμνια Σκλαβάκη), Director of the Lasny of Chania, already notices many positive aspects resulting from the operation of the applicable regulations. One of them is that despite the general reluctance of the Cretans towards all kinds of legal regulations and imposed restrictions, many people report, however, to obtain appropriate permits. Of course, collecting plants is possible only outside protected areas (eg Natura 2000). Also agricultural crops are reported for registration, from which dried herbs are harvested (in such cases, the limitations on the size of the harvest do not apply).
Despite the fact that we are hot fans of Cretan herbs, at the same time we are also hot advocates of the greatest possible protection of areas where they occur naturally. Only a rational way of collecting guarantees that in the next years we will be able to enjoy their flavors and aromas. It is also worth remembering that herbs are not only dried in cuisine and medicine, but also unique Cretan honeys (thyme).
If you are interested in this topic and would like to read the details of this regulation, we suggest you familiarize yourself with its content, which (in Greek) is available at the following address:
https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/ΒΛ45ΟΡ1Θ-ΥΡ9
You will also find more information on this topic in this article:
http://www.haniotika-nea.gr/kalliergia-votanon/
One of the biggest novelties that have appeared on the Polish market in the last two years are polyphenol oils originating in Crete and Greece. Last year, we wrote about them twice, but they are still little-known and recognizable products in Poland. For us, this topic has become very interesting, so we decided to look at it even closer. Therefore, we publish further information on polyphenol oils, focusing mainly on the excellent oil Eliama Gold produced by Elli's Farm in Crete.
Since 2007, the name Feta is protected by international regulations and reserved exclusively for cheeses produced in specific regions of Greece using strictly defined ingredients based on the traditional method of production. Thanks to the regulations introduced in the EU, this name can no longer be used by producers from other EU countries producing "salted cheese in brine". Therefore, since then we can be sure that when buying feta we will reach for the original Greek product that will contain nothing but sheep's milk and possibly goat's, rennet and salt. In the composition of feta, we will not find preservatives or other "enriching" additives because the EU provisions clearly define the characteristics of feta. In addition, the Greeks themselves scrupulously and often control the companies that produce this cheese.
The turn of August and September is the traditional period when a set of grapes for wine production is started in Crete. One of the most important decisions affecting the quality of the future drink is to determine the most favorable harvesting moment.
Komentarze
Wypełnij poniższy formularz aby dodać komentarz