Is Decorative Thyme Edible?

Just like other thyme varieties, creeping thyme is edible with a flavor and aroma akin to mint when crushed or steeped for teas or tinctures. To harvest creeping thyme ground cover, either remove the leaves from the stems or dry them by snipping from the plant and hanging them upside down in a dark, well-aerated area.

Can you eat decorative thyme?

All thymes (and there are over 350 species in the genus Thymus) are edible and this includes varieties usually thought of as ornamental or medicinal.

Can you eat all types of thyme?

There are dozens of selections of thyme. The basic difference between them is that some are grown for culinary use and others are used primarily in landscaping. Both types are edible, but creeping thymes are usually small and tedious to harvest and are therefore more valuable as ground covers.

Is variegated thyme edible?

Variegated Broadleaf Thyme is a perennial herb that is typically grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. The fragrant round green leaves with showy creamy white variegation can be harvested at any time in the season. The leaves have a savory taste and a pleasant fragrance.

What part of the thyme is edible?

Cooking With Fresh Thyme
Fresh thyme can be added to a recipe whole with the stem, or the leaves can be removed from the stem and then sprinkled into a dish. If a recipe calls for a “sprig” of thyme, the leaves and stem should be kept intact.

Can you eat thyme after it flowers?

Thyme flowers are edible and have a similar flavor to thyme leaves. What is this? The longer you leave the flowers on your plants the stronger they will taste so it’s best to pick them when they’re about three weeks old for the best flavor.

Can you eat the little flowers on thyme?

To eat them, use the flowers as a garnish while they’re still attached to the stem. You can also break them up and sprinkle them over a dish. Thyme flowers add a lemony flavor to dishes, and some culinary applications recommend using them to make a flavored butter.

Can you use garden thyme for cooking?

It is perfect in many poultry, meat and fish dishes, as well as casseroles and stews, and a main ingredient of Italian dishes and bouquet garnish. Thyme is a highly ornamental and colourful herb that deserves its place in the garden – let alone for its culinary uses.

Are thyme stems poisonous?

When you have an herb such as thyme, it works great to put whole sprigs in your recipe. When you are cooking the dish some of the leaves may come off bu the stem stays intact and you can simply remove the stems when you are done. Alternatively, you can pluck the leaves and add them to your dish.

Which type of thyme is best for cooking?

Dozens of varieties are available, but those interested in the best culinary thymes have only a handful of choices. Those best for flavor, as well as ease of use, are the low-growing, shrubby ones known as English, French, lemon, or winter thyme.

Can I cook with creeping thyme?

Just like other thyme varieties, creeping thyme is edible with a flavor and aroma akin to mint when crushed or steeped for teas or tinctures.

Is purple thyme edible?

Depending on the variety, flowers can be white, pink, or purple. You do not have to deadhead thyme flowers. And, unlike other flowering herbs, if this plant develops flowers, its leaves will not lose their flavor. The flowers are edible too.

What is the difference between thyme and wild thyme?

—Medicinal Action and Uses—In medicine, Wild Thyme or Serpolet has the same properties as Common Thyme, but to an inferior degree. It is aromatic, antiseptic, stimulant, antispasmodic, diuretic and emmenagogue.

Does thyme raise blood pressure?

Thyme is a flavorful herb packed with numerous healthy compounds. Rosmarinic acid is one such compound. Research has linked it to many benefits, such as reduced inflammation and blood sugar levels, as well as increased blood flow. It may also help reduce blood pressure ( 25 , 26 ).

Can you eat raw thyme?

Can you eat raw thyme leaves? Thyme (thymus vulgaris) is an herb that can be consumed fresh or dried. Like other herbs and spices, it’s packed with disease-fighting nutrients and antioxidants. The easiest way to make this common herb a part of your regular diet to make sure you keep some dried thyme in your kitchen.

Should I let my thyme bloom?

Thyme’s tiny flowers are pretty and white. Though you can pinch the flowers off to allow the plant to produce more leaves, the flavor of thyme really isn’t compromised by letting the plant bloom.

What to do with thyme when it blooms?

In late summer, after the thyme plant has flowered, select the one-third oldest stems on the plant. Using sharp, clean shears, cut these back by two-third. This should be done yearly for the best health of the plant.

What does it mean when thyme flowers?

The name ‘Flowering thyme’ is used to describe the plant in full bom, when it is at its most aromatic; the flavor of the leaves heightened by the presence of the flowers. Thyme doesn’t lose its aroma and flavor once it flowers, as some herbs tend to do.

What do you do with thyme after flowering?

Trim thyme back after it’s finished flowering to promote new growth. This will give you more leaves to harvest through autumn. If you don’t tidy them up, plants become woody and will need replacing after three years. Once established, thyme won’t need watering.

Should you eat thyme stems?

The stems of thyme are edible but are typically too woody to enjoy. The leaves are really what you are after, but leaving the leaves attached to the stem saves prep time. You can just remove and discard the stem and any attached leaves after cooking.

How do you identify a thyme plant?

How to Identify Different Types of Thyme

1. Notice the height of the plant. The low-creeping types of thyme grow 4 to 6 inches high.
2. Observe the leaves for their shape and color.
3. Check the stems and branches.
4. Pick a few leaves and rub them between your fingers.
5. Look for flowers.