"Yiayia, Rigane!"

Wild sprigs of oregano (rigane) grow around the bases of the mountains in the higher elevations of the villages throughout Greece. On our summer trips to Greece, I can always remember stopping to pick oregano alongside these bends in the road. Handfuls of oregano are known to take residence throughout the many homes in Greece. Hung to dry with ribbon or string, the oregano hardens and is ready to be rubbed into little bits of fragrant herbs that douse our palates with memories in Greece! 

"Rigane" on the roadside in Greece

Yiayia picking 'rigane' for us to take home.

Early in July this summer, we were returning from the beach when Papou pulled over for us to grab water out of the cooler in the trunk! Little mounds of oregano springs were waiting to be cut! Their little white flowers beckoned that they were ready to top delectable dishes. Yiayia was first to fill her hands with a bouquet of oregano with plans to dry it out and send it home with us at the end of our vacation. Papou, you, and I each grabbed a little handful of our own oregano to add to Yiayia’s handfuls----as I fused at Yiayia for hanging out close to the mountain edge. Oregano loves to grow in full sun and it’s found among the other dry and thorny vegetation in Greece. Only half of the oregano sprigs are picked each year so that the roots remain in the dry, rocky terrain to be found again------a yearly treasure. I can’t say though that we return to the same locations each summer to pick oregano. 

Mommy is helping pick 'rigane' amongst the thorny, rocky, dry terrain.

Smelling 'rigane' with Papou

A bouquet of 'Rigane' 

Actually a few days later from our first oregano stop, Yiayia, you, and I were walking to Daphnofito, a small village behind our house. You were the first to spot oregano growing. You called, “Yiayia, rigane” and another handful was picked!

Between Ano Ravenia & Zitsa---picking 'rigane'

As the summer unraveled, we found yet another bouquet of oregano to pick and quite by happenstance found another oregano patch while out walking in the village! Now that the summer’s end is near, a plastic container full of dried oregano is traveling home with us. It’s packed in our suitcase---double wrapped in the plastic bin and a Ziploc bag to keep the fragrant herb from adding its fragrance to everything else in our luggage. Some may argue that oregano is found at the grocery store and that they wouldn’t bother picking it, drying it out, and prepping it to use in the kitchen miles across the sea. However if one has ever enjoyed Greek oregano from the mountainside, they’ll know the unexpected joy that comes from picking summer oregano throughout the village roadsides.

Sophia's 'Rigane' Bouquet

In your memory of summer memories.....when recipes call for oregano, I pray that you'll remember the simplicity of finding 'rigane' on the mountains in Greece---the joy of finding it and picking it with Yiayia, Papou, and Mommy!

Another handful of oregano picked to dry...

 I love you little one!