If you want to dry thyme, you can do so quite easily in the air under the right conditions. This is worthwhile, because in the dried state thyme is very long shelf life, so you have long something from the spice.
To use thyme for as long as possible, you should preserve it. The best way to do this is to dry it. In the dried state, you can use it for seasoning, for example, potatoes, tomato sauce, various soups and vegetables such as eggplant or zucchini. But you can also use dried thyme as a tea. Thyme tea is said to have a positive effect on colds. Simply pour hot water over the thyme. This works with both fresh and dried herbs.
Thyme is most aromatic when you harvest it just before flowering, between May and September. You can also create your own small herb garden, even the space on the balcony or windowsill is enough for this.
Drying thyme: instructions
- To dry thyme, cut several branches of the plant with scissors. If your thyme is outside, it is best to choose a day when it does not rain. Because if the thyme is very wet, the risk of mold increases. Therefore, you should not wash the thyme if possible. If there are wilted leaves on the branches, remove them before drying.
- Now take a piece of string and tie several thyme twigs together in bundles.
- Hang the bundles so that the thyme hangs upside down. Choose a warm, dry place to hang it. This place should be as dark / shady as possible. Make sure that the thyme bundles do not hang too close to each other, so that they get enough air from all sides.
- After two to four weeks you can take the thyme down, it is then well dried. You can tell this by the fact that you can easily crumble the leaves between your fingers.
- Separate the leaves from the stems and put them into screw-top jars.
Store the spice jars in a dark and dry place. This way you can use the thyme for several months.