Myrtle

I started this little series last year, Mediteranium plants and herbs. It's a sneak preview of my primary job, gardening, the thing I do off the interwebs. So, in the lights of my NYR #9, finishing what I started, I'm going to continue the series with this post about the Myrtle.

About: Myrtle is the smaller shrub of the Myrtaceae tribe, of which we today know two kinds: Myrtus Communes, that grows in Europe, and Myrtus Nivelii, that grows in the northern part of the African Sahara desert. Myrtle is an evergreen shrub or a small tree that can grow up to 5m. It's recognizable by its aromatic white flowers and small fruits. Myrtle fruits are edible. They are sweet but have a distinctive aroma and smell so they are often used as spice herb. Myrtle is not a hard plant to grow, and it loves growing near the Lavender. It is often said the two are good friends.

History: It is considered that the name ‘’Myrtle’’ originates from the Greek word ‘’Myron’’ which means balm or ‘’Myrein’’ which means to bloom or blossom. Even though it is today widespread across the Mediteranium and North Africa it is thought to originate from the Middle East. Myrtle was especially cherished in ancient Greece and Rome where, according to legends, even the Gods couldn’t reset its beautiful smell. Both Aphrodite and Venus are depicted by the Myrtle scrub.

Use: Myrtle is rich in essential oils, tannins and organic acids, mostly concentrated in the fruit. The fruits are used in a variety of ways for medical purposes. One can chew them fresh; they are used to make alcohol remedies, tea or essential oil. It is recommended to use Myrtle if one suffers from respiratory problems, gut health issues or bladder infections, among others.
Myrtle is used in the kitchen as well. The flour made from dried and crushed Myrtle fruit was used for hundreds of years among poor as a grain flour substitute. Today it is used mostly in making liquors or sugar syrups. There are different Myrtle liquors and wines know across the Mediteranium like Martina from the Croatian isle of Vis or Mirto Rosso and Bianco or Myrtus spumante dolce, from Sardinia and Corsica.

Fun facts: Myrtle is a known symbol of love, beauty, and purity. It is often a part of wedding ceremonies, as a bouquet but the couple was also urged to plant Myrtle in their new home to ensure peace and love in marriage. In ancient times it was considered a sacred plant to Geeks and it was also one of the Jewish sacred plants. In Christianity, a blooming Myrtle branch is a symbol of innocence, love, and loyalty as well but it also symbolizes friendship, peace, and forgiveness. One legend says that Myrtle will not grow nor blossom if it is not planted by a woman.

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