“The herb that gives us the word 'savory' — as in, the opposite of sweet — may be named after satyrs, the lustful forest gods of Greek mythology who supposedly ate it as an aphrodisiac.”
Savory — the herb — comes from the Latin saturēia, which Pliny the Elder connected to the Satyrs (Satyroi) of Greek mythology. The connection is aphrodisiac: satyrs were associated with uncontrolled desire, and the herb was believed to stimulate lust. Whether this etymology is correct or a folk invention is debated, but the association was strong enough that some medieval monasteries prohibited growing savory in their herb gardens. Too exciting for monks.
The adjective 'savory' — meaning pleasantly salty or spiced, the opposite of sweet — entered English from the Old French savouré (flavored, tasty), from the Latin sapor (flavor, taste). This is a different word from the herb, though the two merged in English. The herb savory and the adjective savory share a spelling but different origins. The herb is from saturēia; the adjective is from sapor. English collapsed them into one word.
There are two main species: summer savory (Satureja hortensis) and winter savory (Satureja montana). Summer savory is milder and is the one used in cooking — it has a peppery, thyme-like flavor. In German-speaking countries, savory is called Bohnenkraut — 'bean herb' — because it is the traditional seasoning for bean dishes. The combination is practical as well as culinary: savory is believed to reduce the flatulence caused by beans.
Summer savory is one of the traditional herbs of Provençal cuisine — it appears in herbes de Provence alongside thyme, rosemary, and oregano. In Bulgarian cuisine, savory (chubritsa) is as common as salt. Shopska salata, the national salad, is finished with dried savory. A herb that most English speakers cannot identify is the national seasoning of Bulgaria.
Free, and free of ads
The Journey carries no advertisements and asks for no subscription. Readers keep it running.
Help keep the museum openRelated Words
Today
Savory the herb and savory the adjective share a spelling and nothing else. The herb comes from Latin saturēia (possibly: satyr's herb). The adjective comes from Latin sapor (flavor). English merged them by accident, and now the herb sounds like it describes its own taste.
In Bulgaria, savory is everywhere — on salads, in stews, on grilled meats. In England, most people have never tasted it knowingly. The same herb is a national staple and a complete unknown, depending on which side of Europe you stand on.
Explore more words