The unmistakable aromas of the Bel Paese
Midday in the summer. The boiling water, two glasses of red wine, an open window to let in the heat of the sun. On the kitchen top, a few leaves of fresh basil.
Whether you have a large garden or a simple terrace, what cannot be missing are pots with some herbs: with their unmistakable shades of green, they are scenic and essential in the kitchen. They are resistant and versatile, and without too much effort they will fill the air with fantastic scents and embellish the environment.
Aromatic herbs smell like Italy: it really doesn’t take much to create, in your own home, a corner of the Bel Paese.
The right pot for these precious allies in the kitchen
To give an extra touch to your dishes, just add a pinch of flavour: in the kitchen, herbs are precious allies.
Even if you don’t have a garden, you just need to make a small space on the terrace to have at your disposal the aromatic herbs most loved by Italians: basil, rosemary, sage, rustic mint, licorice, tarragon, chives, lemon balm, thyme, bay leaf… Choose your favourites, place them in separate pots and let your creativity do the rest.
“The kitchen. La cucina, the true mothercountry, this warm cave of the good witch deep in the desolate land of loneliness, with pots of sweet potions bubbling over the fire, a cavern of magic herbs, rosemary and thyme and sage and oregano, balm of lotus that brought sanity to lunatics, peace to the troubled, joy to the joyless…”
John Fante
“The Brotherhood of the Grape”
Aromatic plants have a medium root system. Their ideal place is in terracotta pots, which – regardless of their shape – are designed to encourage the proper development of the roots. The pot is supposed to be one or two sizes larger than the initial size of the plant, so as to allow future growth.
Aromatic herbs in the garden: creative compositions
If you are lucky enough to have a garden, a porch or an outdoor space at your disposal, you can create a green area that smells like Italy.
Aromatic plants grow well both individually and in groups: playing with creativity, you can create beautiful and original compositions.
They can be planted both on the ground and in pots; if the right topsoil is used, they live better in terracotta pots, which are characterized by their draining properties.
More than a pot
You can learn more about this topic and find many other interesting insights in our “More than a pot” magazine dedicated to terracotta pots.
