Threebe

As a personal chef, I’m lucky to get around, meet people and make a lot of friends. Not just clients and guests I meet at parties I cater – I also meet a lot of people in the food business including employees and owners of the places I shop. Everyone likes to talk food and cooking, and everyone wants to make suggestions, share recipes and food experiences. I love it. 

This is where my friend Lauren, who works at my local grocery store, comes in. One day while I was shopping recently, she asked me if I’ve ever tried threebe. I told her I have no idea what threebe is.  

It’s a wild growing spice that’s grown on a Greek Island.  She has a friend from the island and when the friend goes back to visit, her family who forage and dry it, always gives her some to bring back.  Lauren said you can only get it on the island. She likes it on Greek salad and potatoes and her sister makes a tea out of it. Of course I was intrigued, which is where friends come in – she said she would give me some to try.  

I received my gift happily a few weeks ago, and have been experimenting. It’s a little bit like oregano and thyme but has its own flavor, too. I love it and I’ve been using it on everything. 

I’ve searched for information on threebe and, although there is not a lot out there, I learned that it grows wild on the island Kalymnos, also known as the sponge divers island. It’s also called throumbi, the same name as a Greek rice dish, but I have not seen recipes for the dish using threebe as an ingredient.  

Threebe is almost impossible to buy. I’ve seen a couple of listing online, so you might want to try to order some if do not know anyone from Kalymnos. 

As I write this I’m sipping threebe tea and I’m thinking that this might make a great poaching broth for fish or chicken. New ingredients always get my culinary wheels a turning. I love using ingredients that can create new flavors for my dishes.  I’m going to try a little the next time I make moussaka.  

I just heard that more threebe is on it’s way from Kalymnos.  Yes, I’m a lucky chef. 

Comments

[Irene Tiliakos]

One of my clients actually found this link. I come from Kalymnos, and have been telling him endlessly about "thribee" and how the whole family is out of it here in Canada. I usually load up all my luggage with the stuff and hope that Customs doesn't seize it. Threebee is actually Greek for savory. Excellent in everything Greek. Especially Greek salad, cabbage rolls, Greek spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, hamburgers. Especially good in chickpea salad or chickpea soup. Also great in pea-soup!