Oregano
Oregano: Marjoram and oregano are two very similar plants but have quite different flavours as one (oregano) has a scent based on thymol (like thyme) and carvacrol whereas the other has none.
The name oregano comes from the Greek oros (mountain) and ganos (joy); oregano is therefore the ornament of the mountains as it grows abundantly on the slopes of dry mountains. Its flowers and leaves are eaten.
History
Oregano is native to the Mediterranean and its cousin, marjoram, comes from South-West Asia. . Now both are grown in several countries.
The Symbol of happiness and joy, young Greek newlyweds wear it in plaited crowns. Greeks and Romans used it like a fragrance, disinfectant and preservative. They took it across Europe.
Greek mythology tell us how oregano was born: Amarakos, a servant of the king of Cyprus, one day broke a very precious bottle of perfume and hid to escape punishment. But to punish him, the Gods transformed him into Oregano...
Beliefs
- Oregano growing on a tombstone prevents the soul from being at peace. It is absolutely necessary to destroy it.
- According to Roman mythology, Venus is the first to have grown oregano in her garden.
- According to Aristotle, oregano is anti-venomous.
- In the sixteenth century, small bouquets of marjoram were worn to protect against the plague.
England: when a young woman hesitated about choosing her future beloved, she was advised to " "coat herself with a mixture of marjoram, thyme and absinthe on Saint Luke's Day, to dream of her future husband" (Kruger, An illustrated Guide to Herbs, their medexcin and magic)
Virtues
- Antiseptic (high thymol content)
- Favours digestion
- Against colds (tea)
- Calms the nerves
Tips and tricks
- Add at the end of cooking time to release its flavour without losing it
- Add dry oregano on pizza to enhance the taste
Composition
- Origanum vulgare
- 4% maximum essential oil
- majority of carvacrol, thymol in variable proportions
- a few monoterpernes: limonene, terpinene, ocimene,
- caryophyllene, beta bisabolene, para cymene
- qnc monoterpenes alcohol: linalool, 4-terpineol
- 4% maximum essential oil
- Origanum majorana
- 0.7 to 3.5% essential oil
- 40% max cis-sabinene hydrates
- alpha-terpinene, 4-terpineol, alpha-terpineol, terpinenyl-4-acetate, 1,8-cineol
- 0.7 to 3.5% essential oil
The plant
Oregano : Origanum vulgare
Marjoram : Origanum majorana, Maiorana hortensis
Lamiaceae family (like mint, le basil, le thyme ...)
Origanum majorana : : grown as an annual plant in cold regions)
Straight stems, blue flowers with small shell-like leaves
Origanum vulgare : hardy plant
Straight, red, velvety stems,
opposed, small, oval, velvety leaves
Small flowers with two lips, pale pink, on the tips of the stems with purple bracts
Articles extraits de Toil'd'épices |
Garlic
Cinnamon
Lemon grass
Coriander
Orange blossom
Ginger
Bayleaf
Oregano
Parsley
Chilli
Rosemary
Thyme
Vanilla
