Gyula Bittera

* Nagyszalatna, February 9, 1893 – † Budapest, October 21, 1970 / herbalist, ornithologist ; ; He graduated from the Bratislava High School in 1912. He continued his studies at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Budapest, but also attended lectures on chemistry at the Technical University and anatomy at the Veterinary College. During his university years, he worked at the Ornithological Center under the direction of Ottó Herman (Breznóbánya) and published several articles in Aquila and Cave Research. In 1918–1919, he obtained a doctorate in humanities and a secondary school teacher's certificate, and then further developed his knowledge of chemistry, botany and essential oil science in an autodidact manner. Bittera recognized the importance of domestic cultivation and processing of essential oil-containing plants as early as the early 1920s, and the suitability of the Hungarian climate and soil conditions for the cultivation of these important industrial plants. In 1924, he established his own essential oil factory in Budapest. He is credited with establishing the famous Tihany lavender farm, where he acquired significant knowledge of cultivation technology. As the director of the Kaposvár Essential Oil Factory of the Hungarian General Credit Bank, and from 1936, the director of its Budapest factory and numerous agricultural production sites and processing plants, he became a world-renowned expert. His great merit is that he recognized the pharmaceutical significance of the grinding waste generated in pepper mills, which had been considered worthless until then, as early as the early 1930s. His pepper extract was a sought-after item due to its high capsaicin content, and is still used effectively against rheumatic ailments today. By introducing French lavender, he managed to produce a high-quality product that was recognized worldwide. The American Guenther series of books of the time describes the excellence of Hungarian lavender on several pages. In addition to producing essential oils, he also dealt with the preparation of plant extracts for fragrant and medicinal purposes. The heart medicine Cardiazol and its various forms were produced in his factory from 1937 to 1945. In 1949, Bittera's Budapest factory was nationalized. Then, as an employee of the Vegetable Oil Research Institute, the Hungarian Perfume and Cosmetic Industry and finally the Medicinal Plant Research Institute, he mainly dealt with the breeding and agrotechnical issues of peppermint, French lavender, clary sage, angelica and valerian. He studied the effects of trace elements and fertilizers on crop yield and quality. ; ; His main works: ; Production and processing of essential oil plants in Hungary, 1958; Essential oil plants of Hungary, 1960.