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• SPANISH THYME RECIPES HOW TO

Each flower is less than ¼ of an inch long. Flowers are purple to white and are produced in clusters at the terminal ends of erect spikes. Flower: The oregano’s flowers have five united petals and five united sepals and are bilaterally symmetrical.Leaves are ovate with pointed tips and dark green in color. They emerge oppositely with each pair at right angles to the pair below. Leaves: Leaves are ½ to 2 inches long with small depressions at the veins.Shape: Oregano is a flowering perennial herb with a spreading, mounding shape.

SPANISH THYME RECIPES HOW TO

Related: The Complete Map of Edible Plants: Find Out What You Have in Your Area! (Video) How to Identify Origanum Vulgare Many other cultivated species of Origanum are also produced for culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. The US, in addition to Italy, Greece, Spain, and Turkey are the main cultivated sources for Origanum vulgare. Currently, oregano is cultivated or has naturalized throughout the temperate regions around the world. It is native to Europe’s Mediterranean regions as well as southern and central Asia. In the wild, Origanum vulgare is often found at higher elevations in the Mediterranean climate. The soldiers from the Italian Campaign brought it back with their long-lasting love of pizza. In medicine folklore, oregano has been used to promote health, sleep, happiness, among its many other positive attributes.Īlthough oregano has naturalized throughout the world, it surprisingly wasn’t popular in the US until after the Second World War. Oregano continues to be an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine where it is used to aid the spleen, heart, bladder, kidney, and liver. With the help of the Romans, the use of Oregano spread throughout the ancient world of Europe and Northern Africa.ĭuring the Middle Ages, along with the advent of many other documented plant-based medicines in Western Civilizations, oregano was used medicinally to help treat ailments such as toothache, indigestion, cough, colds, aches, and rheumatism.įrom here, it began its spread throughout the temperate world, including farther into Asia and Africa. The Romans helped perpetuate the use of this healthful, zesty herb as they found it easy to grow and enjoyed its flavors. The Greeks believed the wonderful herb was created by the Goddess Aphrodite, making the herb a symbol of joy. Ancient Egyptians used it, as did the ancient Greeks and Romans. The History of OreganoĪs mentioned above, oregano has been used by humans for time immemorial. It also has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity with some evidence for weight loss, cholesterol control, antidiabetic action, and agents that suppress types of cancer.

To this day, studies show oregano contains compounds with antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial activity. More than just a tasty addition in many culinary endeavors, oregano has been used for its diverse medicinal properties for thousands of years as well. Truth be told, these dishes are just not the same without it. Oregano is the flavor that we associate with pizza and Greek salad. Its name originates from ancient Greece and delightfully translates to “joy of the mountains”. The plant has been in use for so long its origin is obscure, but it is believed to have originated in Western Asia and its use dates back a few thousand years at least. Their flavor and medicinal compounds are sometimes muted in these hardy versions of Origanum vulgare. Varieties of Origanum species are grown for their beauty as ornamental plants as well. Closely related to marjoram (Origanum majorana), oregano adds a spicy flair to many Mediterranean dishes. It grows as a perennial herb, flowering profusely each summer similar to many other plants in the mint family. It is an important culinary and medicinal herb in the Lamiaceae or mint family of plants. Oregano, (Origanum vulgare), is often called Spanish Thyme, European Oregano, or Wild Marjoram.