Oregano

Origanum vulgare is a well-known member of the mint family. Warming, aromatic, and slightly bitter, oregano is an herbaceous perennial and common garden plant. Native to the warm, dry climate of the Mediterranean, the plant’s volatile oils are concentrated in sunlight giving oregano its distinct flavor. Oregano leaf is a familiar spice used in culinary dishes and can also be infused in oil or brewed as tea. This kitchen staple can also be used to support digestion amongst its many other beneficial properties.

Oregano is a warm and aromatic yet slightly bitter herb in the mint family. Good quality oregano has a pungency that numbs the tongue. The best quality oregano is grown in a warm, dry climate. The name is derived from the Greek, meaning "mountain of joy". Sunlight encourages the concentration of the essential oils that give oregano its flavor. Two other herbs are used in the same ways as common oregano but have different properties. Mexican oregano is a plant in the verbena family that has an even stronger flavor, while marjoram is a closely related plant that lacks oregano's essential oil and has a different, gentler "mouth feel."