Oregano

Oregano is a highly aromatic flowering perennial that swishes from the mint family, Lamiaceae. It renders a warm flavor with a dash of negligible bitterness. It is a small plant that can reach the height that does not cross 30 inches. Its leaves are arranged oppositely, whereas its purple flowers sit proudly on an upright stem.

Oregano is highly cheered in sauces, pizza toppings, salads, casseroles, and various other cuisines. Its distinct aroma has infiltrated many continents and now oregano has become a topper in grocery lists.

Apart from its stellar culinary uses, oregano has got some rich medicinal properties that make it shine even more in the crowd of other herbs. It is packed with antioxidants, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and powerful wound healing properties. In the well-reputed Traditional Chinese Medicine, oregano is addressed as antipyretic, anti-emetic, and anti-irritant.

With recent researches, oregano is claimed to treat cough, asthma, bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis, urinary tract infections, indigestion, diarrhea, muscle cramps, cancer, and even depression.

Oregano is packed with carvacrol, thymol, cymene, and terpinene that are considered as the most chief principle compound of this plant. These active ingredients are responsible for its unique taste, novel fragrance, and purported medicinal properties.

Oregano is quite easy to grow as it is not fussy about soil needs. It can thrive in average soil in full sun. It is better to use the average or overly-average soil to have a flavorful yield.

Oregano can be started both indoors and outdoors via seeds or cuttings. The seeds or cutting can be started outdoors, before the last expected frost of spring. For indoors, oregano can be started when spring is at its best, as it requires a lot of sun exposure to thrive. The seeds should not be covered lightly to kick-start germination.

Oregano is quick to germinate i.e. within 7 to 14 days. After germination, it takes patience to wait to witness it growth. It seems better to start it by cuttings as they are relatively fast to grow.

The oregano produces flowers in summer that are good for inviting pollinating insects to the garden. Oregano undergoes cross-pollination and later the flower dries up. If shaken by the wind, oregano flowers release seeds that are used for the continuation of the lifecycle of oregano.

To get a handful of flavorful oregano leaves, they are harvested before the plant dives into the blooming phase.

The leaves and seeds are harvested fervently by hands. For seeds, the dried flowers are shaken to release the seeds for germination.

To experience its signature flavor, it is advised to dry the oregano leaves in a dry dark spot, until they appear crisp to touch.

They can even be dried in an oven by splaying the leaves on the baking sheet and heating them at the least setting until they are dried. The dehydrator is yet another option here.

Oregano has been hailed as a signature ingredient in Italian, Spanish, and Mexican cuisines. All around the world, gourmets can’t stop bragging about its necessity in a dish. They are also used medicinally for the sake of seeking its goodness.

• Tincture - Infuse freshly chopped oregano leaves in grain alcohol for 4 to 6 weeks. Strain the liquid and place it in a dark and dry place.
• Tea - Fresh oregano leaves are brewed in hot boiling water for 10 minutes. After straining the plant material, honey can be stirred in to add some flavor.
• Salve - Oregano leaves oil is employed in the formulation of wound healing salves.
• Syrup - Dried oregano leaves are boiled with white granulated sugar and water to form a simple syrup.
• Infused oil - Dried oregano leaves and carrier oil are given a hot water bath for just 10 minutes. Then the oil is allowed to sit on a sunny windowsill to permit a deep infusion. The plant material is strained and a clear oil is stored for later use.

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