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Ground Mediterranean Oregano
Our Ground Mediterranean Oregano is perfect to use in blends or when you want a more even flavor distribution. Oregano is strongly aromatic with a complex flavor. Because there are so many plants that are called oregano, some in the culinary world have suggested that oregano be considered a flavor instead of a specific species.In most US kitchens, there are two types of oregano that are widely used - the most popular is Mediterranean oregano, which is also known as true oregano or Greek oregano. The botanical name of this oregano is Origanum vulgare and it is a member of the Lamiaceae family (mint). Mexican oregano is the other common type of oregano used and is a member of the Verbenaceae family with the botanical name Lippia graveolens. This oregano has a different sort of flavor from the expected flavor of Mediterranean oregano.
Oregano is one of the few herbs that tends to be more flavorful dried than fresh.
History of Mediterranean Oregano
It's difficult to determine where exactly oregano originated, simply because it has such a close relationship with its cousin marjoram. Hailing from the same genus, both their popular and botanical terms have long been used interchangeably. In addition, oregano translates to marjoram in Spanish, making it even harder to figure out historically. It does however appear that marjoram was more widely used in cooking, except along the shores of the Mediterranean.Leave it to the Greeks to come up with a colorful origin story for the herb. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and eternal youth wanted something to represent happiness to grow in her garden on Mount Olympus, so she created oregano. She shared this herb with the earth to bring joy to mortals' lives. The scent of oregano is supposed to stir up thoughts of Aphrodite's beauty. The Greeks called it "the delight of the mountain" because of both its scent and its various uses in their everyday lives.
It is generally accepted by food historians that the Greeks were the first to use oregano. The word "oregano" is derived from the Greek words "oros" and "ganos" meaning mountain and beauty respectively. They believed that cows produced tastier meat when they grazed on fields of oregano. Bridal couples would wear garlands of oregano to promote marital bliss and the dead were graced with gifts of oregano on their final resting places for peace in the afterlife.
When the Romans conquered Greece, they adopted much of the region's culture, and they became fond of oregano's flavor as well. With the Roman's increasing appetite for expanding their empire along with the relative ease of cultivating oregano, its use soon spread throughout Europe and much of Northern Africa. In these regions, it was used to season fish, meats and as a flavoring for wine. Oregano found its way to China along the Silk Road trade route that stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to East Asia.
People throughout time, witches especially, thought taking oregano into bed with them would welcome and promote physic dreaming.
The Native Americans used herbs in smudging ceremonies. Smudging ceremonies were practiced when the Native Americans found it necessary to cleanse an area or body of negative energies. This was the act of burning specific herb sets to draw in good energy and expel the bad. The traditional smudging ceremony needed four essential herbs: white sage for the scent of the desert, sweet grass for the scent of the mountains, tobacco to carry the thoughts and prayers of a person to the heavens, and cedar for its thick smoke and thus strong visual representation of the thoughts and prayers traveling. Today, oregano is sometimes included in these ceremonies, especially in groups who have similar beliefs to the Native Americans about what smudging can do for a person or space. Some practitioners have compared smudging to a shower for the aura and have noted feeling tingly when they are being smudged.
Before World War II, oregano was essentially an unknown herb in America. Returning soldiers had discovered the aromas and flavors of it during the Italian Campaign and brought home with them their newfound desire for its flavor. Since then, oregano has remained a steady part of the American diet.
Mediterranean Oregano Cultivation
The oregano plant has the potential to reach two feet tall and can have a spread of 12"-18". Oregano is considered a perennial in warmer climates, while it is considered an annual in colder climates because it has a terrible time surviving cold winters. Oregano likes to grow in the sun, but in the farther south you plant it, the more you must consider that it will need a little shade on particularly bright days. Oregano leaves are approximately 1" long, and it has white, pink, or purple flowers that are also edible. Regular trimming prevents legginess and allows the plant to get bushier.Mediterranean Oregano is cultivated in Egypt, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Turkey.
Our Mediterranean Oregano is grown in Turkey.
Cooking with Mediterranean Oregano
In Italy, Greece and other Mediterranean countries, cooks have long recognized oregano's almost magical affinity with tomato based sauces, lamb, seafood and almost any garlic flavored dish. Mediterranean Oregano pairs exceptionally alongside basil and the two make for an unbeatable combination in pasta, on roasted vegetables and most definitely with pizza. The herb is also widely used in Egyptian, Italian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Portuguese, Philippine, Spanish, Syrian and Turkish cuisines. In Turkish cooking, oregano is primarily used to flavor meat; most notably lamb and mutton. In popular Turkish barbecue and kebab restaurants, it is often found on the table, alongside of paprika, pepper and salt.You have probably eaten carrots dozens, if not hundreds, of times in your life. How many times did you include oregano in your recipe for those yummy little orange discs of vitamins and minerals? I am guessing none. There is a really easy way to change up the usual carrot cooking routine. If you heat your carrots up, mix them together with two cloves of minced garlic, four tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, and four tablespoons of olive oil. Add salt, pepper, and oregano to taste. This only takes a few minutes, but it adds a whole new dimension of flavor to your dinner spread.
This herb lends a lot of flavor to vegetarian dishes that may otherwise seem drab. Pastas, beans, and tofu are all pretty plain but can all be seasoned, so why not season them?
If you like tomatoes, you can make a delicious tomato based salad with a simple oregano and feta cheese dressing in Greek fashion. The people of Greece have many colorful, both figuratively and literally, recipes that can be made quickly and often with only a few ingredients. The herb is popular with Greek recipes because it is so vibrant flavor-wise.
Spanish cooks use this herb to season rice and vegetables. Brown rice with onions, tomatoes, and oregano is a common dinner that is easy to prepare and serve.
If you are feeling like a Cuban dish for dinner, try Cuban marinated steak. This recipe uses quite a bit of oregano and the meat comes out looking slightly green when it has been marinated properly. Perhaps this is the only appropriate time for meat to appear to be green.
Use with cream sauces, herb butters, salad dressings, soups, and vinaigrettes. It is also outstanding in egg and cheese dishes (such as frittatas, omelets and quiches). Mix with olive oil and brush on foods for the grill. It is also commonly combined with other herbs and spices for a salt-free seasoning.
Mediterranean Oregano works well in combination with basil, garlic, thyme, and parsley.
This herb tastes good with potatoes, poultry, pork, artichokes, beans, anchovies, fish, shellfish, veal, venison, spinach, squash, duck, eggplant, and eggs.
Some recipes that we like that feature this incredible herb are Zuppa Verde Patata, Quinoa Feta Phyllo Cups, and Herb Roasted Potaotes.
What does Mediterranean Oregano taste like?
Mediterranean Oregano tends to be a bit sweet and mild.Compared to sweet marjoram, however, it is stronger with more of a bitter, minty taste.
Dried vs Fresh
Oregano is an important culinary herb and its leaves provide its signature flavor. Unlike many herbs, the dried version of oregano tends to be more flavorful than fresh oregano. Mediterranean Oregano can vary in intensity depending on where it is grown, but a good quality oregano may be strong enough to practically give a numbing sensation to the tongue.Substitutions and Conversions
Mediterranean Oregano can be used in place of Greek, Italian or Spanish oregano in any recipe.Basil has a similar flavor to Mediterranean oregano and can be used as a substitution.
If your recipe calls for Mexican oregano specifically, Mediterranean oregano is not a good substitution as they have vastly different flavor profiles. Mexican Oregano tends to taste grassier, like hay.
** This product is certified kosher.
Read More
Living the Mediterranean DietA Guide to Herbs and Cheese
The Oregano Throwdown: Mediterranean vs Mexican
Most Popular Spices by Cuisine