Is All Oregano Greek?

You may not be aware of this Greek oregano info, but while there are many varieties of oregano, Greek oregano is considered the “true oregano” and is typically the oregano that graces the standard supermarket spice rack.

Is oregano the same as Greek oregano?

Origanum vulgare: This is the species most commonly known as oregano. Its best known variety is Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare var. hirtum). Sometimes known as true oregano or Italian oregano, this is the familiar herb used on pizzas and in tomato sauces.

Is oregano a Greek herb?

The name oregano is derived from the Greek oros (meaning mountain) and ganos (meaning joy). The literal translation means “mountain of happiness,” since it covers hillsides in the Mediterranean and smothers them with beautiful fragrance and flowers.

What country is oregano originally from?

Oregano is native to the hills of the Mediterranean countries and western Asia and has naturalized in parts of Mexico and the United States. The herb has long been an essential ingredient of Mediterranean cooking and is widely used to season many foods.

Are Greek and Mexican oregano the same?

Mexican oregano is commonly mistaken for its cousin Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare). Although, they’re more like step cousins, because the two don’t even share a taxonomic family. Greek oregano is part of the mint or Lamiaceae family, and Mexican oregano is part of the verbena or Verbenaceae family.

Are there different types of oregano?

Oregano Varieties

• Common Oregano. Scientific Name: Origanum vulgare.
• Syrian Oregano. Scientific Name: Origanum syriacum.
• Greek Oregano. Scientific Name: Origanum vulgare subsp.
• Golden Oregano. Scientific Name: Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’
• Ornamental Oregano. Scientific Name: Origanum sp.
• Italian Oregano.
• Sweet Marjoram.

Can you substitute regular oregano for Greek oregano?

The best fresh oregano substitute is dried oregano. If you have dried oregano, make sure to use 1 teaspoon to one 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano as dried tends to be more potent. When cooking it is best to use dried oregano and use fresh oregano as a garnish.

What herbs are Greek?

What are Greek herbs? There are an abundant amount of Greek herbs since it is a country located in the Mediterranean. The most notable herbs include basil, bay leaf, dill, fennel, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, purslane, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, and thyme.

What does Greek oregano look like?

What is Greek Oregano? Compared to other varieties of oregano, there really is nothing remarkable about Greek oregano from an ornamental viewpoint. It simply has hairy dark green leaves with small white flowers.

Is Greek oregano the best?

The essential oil of Greek oregano is considered the best in the world, as recent studies have shown it to have the highest content in carvacrol and thymol, both of which have powerful antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties. It has antibiotic and antiseptic properties as well.

What cultures use oregano?

Oregano is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia. Oregano was used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans in their food (2). Wild oregano oil is used throughout mediterranean cultures as a powerful medicine (3).

Is oregano an Italian herb?

Oregano. Oregano (origano, in Italian) is ubiquitous in the United States and became popular in the States following WWI, when soldiers brought it back to America. Ironically, oregano is not as commonly used in Italian cooking as other herbs, such as parsley or basil.

What is the English name of oregano?

Oregano (Origanum vulgare), also known as pot marjoram, is a species of Origanum.

Oregano
Species:	O. vulgare
Binomial name
Origanum vulgare L.

What can I substitute for Greek oregano?

Best oregano substitute

• Basil (fresh or dried). The best oregano substitute? Basil.
• Thyme (fresh only). The best oregano substitute for the fresh herb? Fresh thyme.
• Italian seasoning (dried, for Italian-style recipes). Here’s a fun trick!
• Marjoram (dried, for Mexican style recipes). The last best oregano substitute?

What is the difference between Mediterranean oregano and oregano?

While they share the moniker “oregano,” both are from different plants entirely. Mediterranean Oregano is indigenous to the Mediterranean region of the world, specifically in Turkey, Italy, Greece, France, Morocco, and Israel.

What is best oregano?

Some Best Oregano For Cooking

• Greek Oregano.
• Watkins Gourmet Spice, Organic Oregano.
• Frontier Co-op Oregano Leaf.
• Simply Organic Oregano Leaf.
• McCormick Mediterranean Style Oregano Leaves.
• Happy Belly Mediterranean Oregano.
• The Spice Way Oregano Leaves.

What is the difference between regular oregano and Mexican oregano?

Regular oregano is an Italian and Mediterranean spice with minty undertones. It matches perfectly with dishes from that region. You will commonly find it added to pasta sauces, grilled meats and pizza. Mexican oregano has lemon and citrus flavors as well as some tones of licorice.

What’s the difference between Italian oregano and Mexican oregano?

Each plant comes from completely different families which explains why their flavor is different. The Mexican variety is pungent and citrusy with a subtle anise undertone; Italian Oregano has a slightly sweeter, more subtle flavor and it’s likely to be the spice that you’re currently using in cooking.

Is Greek oregano good for cooking?

Thanks to its subtly sweet, herbaceous flavor, oregano has become one of the most popular cooking herbs in the world, featured prominently in Italian, Turkish, Mexican, and Greek cuisine.

What spices came from Greece?

Spices that flavoured Greek cooking from ancient times to the…

• Pepper (Piperi).
• Saffron (Krokos).
• Cloves (Garifalo).
• Nutmeg (Moschokaritho).
• Coriander (kolianthro).
• Mahlab/Mahleg (Mahlepi).
• Cinammon (kanela).
• Mastic (Masticha).

What is the most used herb in Greek cooking?

oregano
Rigani (oregano) is used a lot in Greek cooking appearing in most meat dishes, baked vegetables, sauces and of course on Greek salads. This is the most widely used herb.