Savory, (genus Satureja), genus of about 30 species of aromatic herbs of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Savory is native to Eurasia and North Africa and is cultivated in many climates, particularly in France and Spain. The dried leaves and flowering tops of several species are used to flavour many foods, particularly poultry and stuffings, and are a popular ingredient in herb bouquets. The dried leaves are greenish brown and have a fragrant aroma and a slightly sharp warm taste. Savory contains about 1 percent essential oil, the principal component of which is carvacrol.