SCENTS of sage, lavender and cornflowers rise from the meadows of Albania, which has seen soaring overseas demand for medicinal herbs since the coronavirus pandemic.
In Sheqeras, at the foot of the Mali i Thate mountain in Albania's south, it is the season for cornflowers, a plant traditionally valued for its ability to boost the metabolism and resistance to infections.
Early in the morning, before the heat of the day, dozens of women wearing broad-rimmed hats, hand-pick the magnificent signature-blue flowers that attract clouds of butterflies and bees.
The cornflowers are then dried in darkened rooms to preserve their colour before being shipped abroad.
For the past few years, Albania has been one of Europe's top producers of medicinal herbs, mostly wild plants harvested in the foothills.
About 95 percent are exported to the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany or Italy.
- Booming exports -
Demand has been soaring since the coronavirus pandemic increased interest in herbs believed to strengthen the immune system and amid growing enthusiasm for natural and organic products.
"Every cloud has a silver lining," says Altin Xhaja, whose company, Albrut, has, like many others in the sector, expanded areas under cultivation and intensified harvesting of wildflowers.
In 2020, Albania exported more than 14,000 tonnes of medicinal and aromatic herbs worth 50 million euros ($59 million).
That was 15 percent more compared with the previous year, official figures show.
And the trend continues, with exports 20 percent higher in the first three months of 2021 from a year earlier.
- 'We have to be quick' -
The boom is a windfall for one of Europe's poorest countries which, with a population of 2.8 million people, is largely dependent on tourism along the Adriatic coast that has been hard-hit by the pandemic.
Nettle, wild apple trees, cowslip and other medicinal plants provide a living for some 100,000 Albanians, who have long used them themselves in traditional remedies.
"It's a race against time. We have to be quick," says Xhaja.
"Cornflowers are the most expensive at the moment; a kilo of dried flowers will go for around 30 euros," he says.
Just next to the fields of cornflowers, a beautiful violet carpet of mallows can wait a bit longer before the harvest.
As dozens of workers busily select and sort plants at his factory in Lac, north of Tirana, Filip Gjoka says that the sector has also benefited from tensions between Washington and Beijing.
"The trade war between the United States and China has forced many Western players to turn towards the Albanian market," says Gjoka, who also heads the association of medicinal and aromatic herbs.
Around 30 Albanian companies are authorised to export the plants used in herbal medicine due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-septic and even anti-stress properties.
They are used to make teas rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, oils or ointments.
- 'Sage is my life' -
The rocky plateaus in Albania's north are home to sage, for which demand has increased by 40 percent, prompting farmers to increase the area under cultivation.
"It was unforeseen. It had to be done quickly to be able to respond" to the demand, says farmer Pjeter Cukaj, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"These plants provide a living for more than 50 percent of families in the region," he adds, crediting local sage, lavender and wild herbs with "magical powers" for the health.
But farmers complain about the difficulty in finding funding for expansion and the construction of storage and drying facilities, and say that any financial aid they do get comes in dribs and drabs.
Professionals are also calling for a law for labels to guarantee quality, which would promote the sector's growth.
"Everything is pure, without pesticides, without anything," says Edlira Licaj, as she pulls weeds from around the sage along with a dozen other women.
"We do everything by hand," she says.
Meanwhile, 91-year-old Drane Cukaj attributes her longevity to the sage infusion she drinks every morning.
"Life is in the meadows, sage is my life, my love, it has always made me happy," says the mother of nine who also has 40 grandchildren.
Cukaj says she's convinced that the wild herbs "help against the coronavirus".
Still, that didn't stop her from getting the jab -- just in case.
ETX Studio
Sat Jul 10 2021
!['Silver lining': Albania medicinal herbs bloom in pandemic 'Silver lining': Albania medicinal herbs bloom in pandemic](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/71625885033_ALBANIA.jpg)
Farm workers pick medicinal herb Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower in the village of Sheqeras near the city of Korca. - ETX Studio
![Sukan Olimpik 2024: Sudah terlambat naikkan darjah kesukaran - Nur Dhabitah Sukan Olimpik 2024: Sudah terlambat naikkan darjah kesukaran - Nur Dhabitah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720156473_DhabitahSabri.jpg)
Sukan Olimpik 2024: Sudah terlambat naikkan darjah kesukaran - Nur Dhabitah
Beliau perlu sekurang-kurangnya setahun dalam usaha meningkatkan darjah kesukaran baharu bagi acara 3m papan anjal individu wanita.
![Paris 2024: 16,000 katil kadbod untuk perkampungan sukan, media Paris 2024: 16,000 katil kadbod untuk perkampungan sukan, media](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720156151_Paris.jpg)
Paris 2024: 16,000 katil kadbod untuk perkampungan sukan, media
Sebanyak 16,000 katil kadbod akan digunakan di Perkampungan Sukan Saint-Denis and Chateauroux dan di Perkampungan Media Dugny.
![Presiden Kesatuan Ulama Sedunia Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi adakan lawatan rasmi ke Malaysia Presiden Kesatuan Ulama Sedunia Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi adakan lawatan rasmi ke Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720155909_TBnaim.jpg)
Presiden Kesatuan Ulama Sedunia Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi adakan lawatan rasmi ke Malaysia
Presiden Kesatuan Ulama Sedunia Prof Ali Muhyiddin Ali Al-Qaradaghi mengadakan lawatan rasmi ke Malaysia bermula hari ini hingga 12 Julai atas undangan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Buruh bakal bentuk kerajaan, Starmer PM baharu?
Pengundian telah berakhir dan Parti Buruh Britain diunjurkan memenangi pilihan raya umum United Kingdom (UK) dengan kemenangan besar, sekaligus menukar senario politik di UK.
Penyokong anggap kemenangan buruh berita sangat hebat
Sementara itu, kumpulan penyokong Parti Buruh Britain gembira dengan laporan yang menyebut parti konservartif kalah teruk dalam pilihan raya yang diadakan
mereka meraikan lebih awal kejayaan buruh menewaskan konservatif dalam politik United Kingdom, U-K
mereka meraikan lebih awal kejayaan buruh menewaskan konservatif dalam politik United Kingdom, U-K
![Parti Buruh raih majoriti mudah Pilihan Raya Britain 2024 Parti Buruh raih majoriti mudah Pilihan Raya Britain 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720154151_tbKeirStarmerlead.jpg)
Parti Buruh raih majoriti mudah Pilihan Raya Britain 2024
Menepati ramalan, parti pembangkang, Parti Buruh Berjaya meraih majoriti mudah dalam Pilihan Raya Britain pada Jumaat.
Ringgit dijangka kukuh pada separuh tahun kedua 2024 - Pakar
Menurut Ketua, MIDF Research, Imran Yassin Md Yusof, pengukuhan ini dijangka akan menarik masuk dana asing ke dalam negara yang seterusnya akan memberi impak positif kepada pasaran saham tempatan.
Proses kira undi di Parlimen Rishi Sunak sedang berlangsung
Proses pengiraan undi sedang berlangsung di Kawasan parlimen Perdana Menteri Britain, Rishi Sunak di Richmond, North Yorkshire, pada awal Jumaat.
![PRK Sungai Bakap: Polis lengkapkan siasatan lelaki berkelakuan tidak senonoh terhadap wartawan PRK Sungai Bakap: Polis lengkapkan siasatan lelaki berkelakuan tidak senonoh terhadap wartawan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41719417195_tbHamzahAhmad.jpg)
PRK Sungai Bakap: Polis lengkapkan siasatan lelaki berkelakuan tidak senonoh terhadap wartawan
Lelaki berusia 30 an itu masih direman dan kawad cam akan dilakukan hari ini, kata Ketua Polis Pulau Pinang.
![Agong, Permaisuri berkenan berangkat ke majlis sambutan Maal Hijrah di Putrajaya Ahad ini Agong, Permaisuri berkenan berangkat ke majlis sambutan Maal Hijrah di Putrajaya Ahad ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720153038_TBSULTANIBRAHIM.jpg)
Agong, Permaisuri berkenan berangkat ke majlis sambutan Maal Hijrah di Putrajaya Ahad ini
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim dan Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah berkenan untuk berangkat ke Majlis Sambutan Maal Hijrah Peringkat Kebangsaan 2024/1446H.
![EURO 2024: Sepanyol tutup kempen Kumpulan B dengan rekod sempurna EURO 2024: Sepanyol tutup kempen Kumpulan B dengan rekod sempurna](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719275591_tbFerranTorres.jpg)
EURO 2024: Sepanyol tutup kempen Kumpulan B dengan rekod sempurna
La Roja sudah pun menjamin puncak Kumpulan B dan layak ke pusingan 16 dengan memastikan kemaraan ke peringkat kalah mati.
![EURO 2024: Albania bangkit ikat Croatia, 2-2 di Hamburg EURO 2024: Albania bangkit ikat Croatia, 2-2 di Hamburg](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718848268_Euro.jpg)
EURO 2024: Albania bangkit ikat Croatia, 2-2 di Hamburg
Skuad kendalian Zlatko Dalic dan Sylvinho tampil dalam perlawanan kedua kumpulan dengan misi kemenangan selepas tewas aksi pertama.
![Euro 2024: UEFA buka kertas siasatan terhadap Albania susulan kekecohan penyokong Euro 2024: UEFA buka kertas siasatan terhadap Albania susulan kekecohan penyokong](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718603800_tbpitchinvader.jpg)
Euro 2024: UEFA buka kertas siasatan terhadap Albania susulan kekecohan penyokong
Kesatuan Bola Sepak Eropah (UEFA) telah membuka kertas siasatan terhadap Persekutuan Bola Sepak Albania berhubung tingkah laku penyokongnya semasa perlawanan Euro 2024 menentang Itali, lapor Sputnik.
![Seorang mangsa ditemui hidup dalam bangunan runtuh susulan gempa bumi Seorang mangsa ditemui hidup dalam bangunan runtuh susulan gempa bumi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-11/81574991993_TBALBANIA.jpg)
Seorang mangsa ditemui hidup dalam bangunan runtuh susulan gempa bumi
Penemuan tersebut ketika operasi mencari dan menyelamat pasukan bomba diteruskan.
![14 maut akibat gempa bumi berukuran 6.4 magnitud di Albania 14 maut akibat gempa bumi berukuran 6.4 magnitud di Albania](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-11/51574760431_TBALBANIA.jpg)
14 maut akibat gempa bumi berukuran 6.4 magnitud di Albania
Sekurang-kurangnya enam maut susulan gempa bumi berukuran 6.4 magnitud yang menggegarkan Albania pada pagi Selasa.
![Gempa bumi kuat 6.3 skala richter landa Albania Gempa bumi kuat 6.3 skala richter landa Albania](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-11/71574742880_TBALBANIA.jpg)
Gempa bumi kuat 6.3 skala richter landa Albania
Tiada ancaman tsunami kepada Malaysia.
![Dua gempa gegar Albania Dua gempa gegar Albania](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-08/81564749788_California.jpg)
Dua gempa gegar Albania
Kata kementerian itu, gegaran dirasai di sepanjang pantai barat Albania.
![Shaqiri, Xhaka hadapi tindakan disiplin Shaqiri, Xhaka hadapi tindakan disiplin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/81529805226_ShaqiriXhaka.jpg)
Shaqiri, Xhaka hadapi tindakan disiplin
Gandingan itu meledak dalam separuh masa kedua untuk membantu Switzerland meraih kemenangan 2-1 di Russia, tetapi cara mereka meraikan gol mencuri perhatian ramai pihak.
!['Dendam' anak Kosovo terlunas 'Dendam' anak Kosovo terlunas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/51529754090_GranitXherdan.jpg)
'Dendam' anak Kosovo terlunas
Pertembungan di Kaliningrad petang Jumaat itu tidak sekadar sebuah perlawanan bola sepak intens, tetapi bergelumang dengan sejarah silam.
!['Ayah babi' - netizen serang insta Dua Lipa 'Ayah babi' - netizen serang insta Dua Lipa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-03/81520394759_DuaLipa.jpg)
'Ayah babi' - netizen serang insta Dua Lipa
Instagram Dua Lipa kemudiannya diserang oleh netizen dari Malaysia yang mempersendakan penggunaan perkataan itu.