Shemitah, Appendix D: Shemitah Sanctity for Herbs and Spices
When does each kind of herb and spice have shemitah sanctity, and when is its' Bi'ut time?
|
[1]Herb |
Sacred from |
Sacred until |
Sefichin from |
Sefichin until |
Bi'ur time |
|
Anise |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Basil |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
3 Tishrei eighth year |
Early Dec. shemitah |
Late Nov. eighth year |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Bay leaf |
Mid-April shemitah |
Mid-May eighth year |
No sefichin[2] |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Bible Hyssop (Lebanese/Syrian oregano, a.k.a. za'atar) |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Dec. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Black pepper |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Caper |
Late May shemitah |
Late May eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
Mid-Nov. eighth year |
|
Caraway |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Jan. eighth year (Early Shevat 5783-2023) |
Late Feb. shemitah |
Mid-Feb. eighth year |
No bi'ur |
|
Cardamom (Cardamon) |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Chives |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Nov. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Cinnamon |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Clove |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Cumin |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Fenugreek |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Ginger |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Hawaij – coffee mix |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Hawaij – soup (Yemenite soup mix) |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Hyssop (medicinal plant, Hyssopus officinalis) |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Dec. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Lemon balm |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Nov. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Lemon grass |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Nov. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Lemon verbena |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Nov. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Mint and peppermint |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Nov. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Mustard |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Nigella (black cumin, kalonji) |
Not sacred[3] |
NA |
No sefichin3 |
NA |
No bi'ur3 |
|
Oregano (wild marjoram) |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Dec. eighth year |
No sefichin[4] |
NA |
No bi'ur[5] |
|
Poppy |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Rosemary |
Late Sept. shemitah |
Late May eighth year (Early Sivan 5783-2023) |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Saffron crocus (autumn crocus) |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Sage |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Nov. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Sesame |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Tarragon |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Jan. eighth year (Early Shevat 5783-2023)
|
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Thyme |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Early Kislev eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Tree wormwood |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Early Kislev eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
True Watercress |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Early Kislev eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur5 |
|
Turmeric |
Not sacred2 |
NA |
No sefichin2 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
|
Wormwood |
3 Tishrei shemitah |
Late Nov. eighth year |
No sefichin4 |
NA |
No bi'ur2 |
[1] Herbs assume shemitah sanctity from the time there is new growth. If the beginning of the plant growth occurred after Rosh Hashanah, the plant has shemitah sanctity.
[2] Shemitah laws do not apply to imports.
However, if one grows such plants in their garden, the plant assumes shemitah sanctity. Nevertheless, bi'ur does not apply. For annuals, however, if the plant self-seeded and sprouted during the shemitah year, the sefichin prohibition also applies.
[3] Produced by non-Jews—shemitah laws do not apply.
[4] Perennial plant—the sefichin prohibition does not apply.
[5] Grows all year long—the bi'ur obligation does not apply.
