Phrygana - Sage

Characteristic phrygana in the area of Apoklistra. Phrygana are low shrubs with barbed leaves from a wide variety of species. These plants adapted to dry and hot summer and grow in barren places up to 300 meters in altitude, even in degraded areas after fires. Many of them, such as thyme, sage and ladania, are useful, fragrant and medicinal plants that have been used since ancient times. Sage (Salvia pomifera L. subsp. calycina), which has a pronounced presence in this location, is the most widespread decoction of Kythera. For many, the collection of “sage”, as the locals say, towards the end of the summer before the first rains, is a family annual 'ceremony' and an opportunity to walk around beautiful parts of the island. They collect the tops of sage with the aromatic leaves and dry them in a dry and dark place for several days, so that they are kept in good condition for the whole year. It is condumated throughout the day, but it is also drunk as a morning tea with Kytherian rusks and honey. It is very aromatic and is also used as a culinary herb in the Mediterranean, especially in Italy. Sage has antiseptic, healing and many more medicinal properties. Also, sage is one of the important beekeeping plants of Kythera.