How herbs became my life mission

Life is never boring for me, I must admit. The more I think, the more I realize I'm a person of extremes in almost every aspect. And so are all my stories. This time, I'll share with you how my love for herbs was born. I know it would be most romantic to say that I've been connected with flowers since I was little, that I was jumping around meadows picking flowers as a girl... But it wasn't quite like that. In fact, I knew practically nothing about flowers from my childhood. At home, we knew a few basic herbs, and that was it. However, one event turned my life completely upside down and got me thinking.

'Revival' of ancient knowledge and the birth of a new love

I was still employed in the military when a friend asked me for help: she found a recipe for homemade 'jägermeister' in the newspaper and wanted to make it. I think the recipe required 55 different herbs. As I started reading the recipe, images of flowers written in the recipe literally appeared before my eyes. I knew exactly what each of the flowers looked like. I had no idea where this knowledge came from. I must admit, I was a little scared of myself. My friend was also puzzled by how I knew all this. So, I still like to joke that I was a witch in a past life.

Well, my friend and I then bought about 10 liters of alcohol, and I started working. In the first attempt, my 'jägermeister' contained more than 60 different types of flowers. The reaction from the male audience was amazing - that 'jägermeister' ran out in record time. This response gave me some extra motivation, and I made two more liqueurs - one fruity and the other with walnuts. And that's when my great love was born. I was 'cooked.'

I immediately went in search of knowledge and probably bought up all the literature on herbs and spices. And I started studying and absorbing knowledge. A new world opened up to me, which I had not known until then. I devoured knowledge - book after book, flower after flower, spice after spice.

As I learned and gained knowledge, I realized how rich my beloved Jezersko is with plants. I found practically every flower I wanted in Jezersko. When I explored the flora of Jezersko, I found that more than 1200 species of plants grow here. What a discovery it was for me! And so, Jezersko became my playground, my garden. As a joke, I always say that I can graze here wherever I want.

I lost fear and started listening to myself

I admit that in the first few years, I didn't trust myself that much, so I helped myself a lot with books and notes. But with experience, I lost fear, surrendered, and started listening to myself and making liqueurs by feeling. As the first major challenge, I set out to make the 'Jezersko Queen' - the queen of liqueurs. I refined the recipe for eight long years, and in the end, the recipe for today's Jezerska Pehta was born, which contains 102 flowers.

That was a turning point for me. I knew that if I could create Pehta, I could create anything. And I started. I came up with recipes on the go, set various challenges for myself. My husband and I quickly gave each new liqueur I mixed the most humorous name possible. For example, I made a calming liqueur and called it Anti-stress. At my brother's request, who loves spicy tastes, I made today's Žerjavica, a honey liqueur containing a lot of acacia flowers, and I added spicy peppers.

Once, the people of Jezersko challenged me: They wanted me to make something for 'real men.' And so, Hribovska kri was born, containing 54 fruits and roots of plants that are also found in Jezerska Pehta. For a real effect, I added horsehair, which has an excellent effect on male potency. So the wolf was full, and the goat whole. Over time, Hribovska kri earned the nickname 'Jezerska viagra.' So far, I have created more than 20 different types of liqueurs, which I call elixirs, as each of them has certain positive effects.

It's part of me ...

I can't exactly describe where this feeling for herbs comes from. However bizarre and far-fetched it may sound, if I allow it and open up, the flowers call me themselves. Once, for example, I spent the whole season trying to find one flower, the mountain pearl. That flower kept eluding me. At that time, I was working in Ljubljana, and every day I commuted through the Kokra Valley to work and back. And every time, at the same place in Kokra, I got a strange feeling that I should stop right there.

Well, one day I had enough. I listened to my inner voice and stopped. If anyone had seen me, they would probably have thought I was completely crazy. I was elegantly dressed, in high heels. In short, a completely atypical outfit for me. And I didn't have any spare shoes in the car at the time. But I still started climbing the hill in high heels. Just after a few meters, I was completely dirty. I didn't care much because a great reward was waiting for me soon... Suddenly, in front of me, the mountain pearls appeared. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

Since then, I no longer have any lists of where and when each flower grows. I simply listen to myself. And that's why searching and gathering flowers is easy for me today. I spend a lot of time in nature, and thanks to this environment, I have sharpened my senses immensely. I am extremely connected with nature; I feel it.

Whenever I pick any of the flowers, I thank them, as I find them at just the right moment. I collect all the forest gifts very thoughtfully and sensibly. I have great respect for nature. And this is also felt in my liqueurs. Even when planting herbs at home, I talk to them. I plant everything with feeling, no matter how illogical it may seem. Even when I don't feel well, I just go to my garden and feel better. That's my therapy. And I am infinitely grateful that through herbs, I found my passion, my life mission.

Discover the magic of unique homemade jams, made with care and love.
 
 
BACK