Food By Franz

The proper name for the culinary herb oregano is Origanum vulgare – now I don’t know about you, but the vulgare part of the name is somewhat bothersome, eh? Oregano is a member of the prolific mint family. A perennial herb (*in most climates), oregano has an aromatic, warm and slightly bitter taste. Its leaves are coarse, oval, and fuzzy. Leaves are about 5/8 inch long; they are dark green when fresh and light green when dried. It is the leaves that are used in cooking, and the dried herb is often more flavorful as the fresh ounce for ounce. Important as a culinary herb and widely used Greek, Italian, Spanish and Turkish cooking.

Oregano is native to several areas of the globe – Europe, the Mediterranean region and southern and central Asia. Spread throughout the world by trading ships – its ability to be dried and stored made it a valuable commodity.
Oregano Cut & Sifted – 2 Lb Oregano, Cut & Sifted: GR
Oregano is a very hardy plant – easy to cultivate, easy to harvest and use. It varies in intensity; good quality oregano is so strong that it almost numbs the tongue, but cultivars adapted to colder climates have often a less intense flavor. The influence of climate, season and soil on the composition of the essential oil is greater than the difference between the various species. Oregano requires pruning or it will become rangy. It has very few pests and its blossoms attract good pollinators.

Often used in tomato sauces, fried vegetables, and grilled meat. Together with basil, it contributes much to the distinctive character of many Italian dishes. Oregano combines nicely with pickled olives and capers. Oregano is an indispensable ingredient in Greek cuisine. Oregano adds flavor to a Greek vinaigrette, is essential to the lemon-olive oil marinade for souvlaki. Useful in seasoning many fish dishes.

Interesting facts according to Wiki:

Oregano is high in antioxidant activity, due to a high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids.
Oregano has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens – these characteristics may be useful in both health and food preservation.
In southern Philippines oregano is used when boiling carabao or cow meat to eliminate the odor of the meat