Tag Archives: Herbs

I regularly scan the Cypriot newspapers online and my favourite is the ‘Living’ supplement of the Sunday Mail. They’ve been running a slightly gruesome series on the world’s most poisonous plants but I try to avoid reading the symptoms that the offending plant will cause and hurry quickly to the restaurant reviews, keen to discover new gems for my next visit to Cyprus.

One such gem I came across was a wonderful traditional taverna in Letymbou.

After a tortuous journey across Paphos we finally arrived and once settled at our table the waiter brought the menus and, with mouths watering, we chose our food. I usually get bored waiting for food top arrive and start rearranging the table or do origami with the napkins but this time my eyes drifted to the arrangement that decorated our table. Not your usual plastic flower or single carnation in a stem vase but a bouquet of mixed greenery. Curiosity getting the better of me, I reached out to check if it was real and was rewarded with a heady aroma of herbal scents. Much heated discussion followed as we tried to identify the mix and finally agreed that in the bouquet were thyme, rosemary, basil, tarragon and coriander. What we all agreed on was what a wonderful idea it was for an arrangement for a dining table.

Now back home, we’ve eaten at each other’s homes two or three times and on each occasion the hosts have tried to outdo each other in the range and combination of herbs that have decorated the table.

It just goes to show that arrangements don’t have to be flowers and that those which complement the occasion can be a big talking point. And unlike most flowers they’ll also be recyclable afterwards in the next meal! Next time you’re in Larnaca looking for flowers for the table pass by Cosmea Gardens, consider aromatic herbs instead and wait for the comments from your guests!