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A pinch of thyme…Its easily recognizable in the garden. It is a member of the prolific mint family and is a perennial shrub. It has woody stems that are covered with small, gray green leaves and is very aromatic. Thyme herb blends well with others but has an affinity to tomato, egg and lamb dishes. Its always a component of a bouquet garni and the popular “herbes de provence” mix. Often used in soups and stews and can be added in the early stages as it is slow to release its flavor, much like bay leaf.
Thyme is a good source of iron and is used widely in cooking. Essential as basil to Italian marinara sauce, it is also excellent used on baked or poached fish dishes. It is commonly used in stuffing’s, sauces, pickling, stews and soups. Its really an “all around” herb that blends well in almost any combination because it doesn’t overpower. The herb is used almost world wide in cooking, its basic to Greek, Italian, French, Middle Eastern and Caribbean cooking. Thyme is commonly used in combination with other spices to flavor everything from Italian sausages to Caribbean jerk chicken.
Historically it was used by the Egyptians in the embalming process. The ancient Greeks prized it for its scent, using it in baths and incense. The Romans spread it throughout the continent and used it to flavor liquor and cheeses. In the middle ages it was thought to bring courage and was given to knights. It was also used beneath pillows to ward off nightmares.
Easily grown and hardy, once established it will provide year round spice to you. It is a good choice for an kitchen planter as its growth can be “trained”, but once the stem goes woody it will need more room for growth and should be planted outside. There are a ton of varieties to choose from, I grow and use common thyme (thymus vulgaris). It is an great attractor of bees in the garden.
I found some interesting things about thyme while doing research for this article – did you know that thymol (derived from thyme) is antiseptic and is the main active ingredient in Listerine mouthwash?
Health wise, it can be made into a tea (simple infusion) and is used to treat respiratory infections like bronchitis.
It is an excellent companion plant in the garden as it attracts bees and repels many pest insects.
The tea from thyme can be used (misted) around doors and windows to repel summer insects.
