The family of oregano ranges from dost to Greek oregano to marjoram, which is commonly used in our country. All oregano varieties have in common their distinctive aroma, which is indispensable in Mediterranean cuisine.
Oregano species: Mediterranean seasoning herbs for tomato dishes and meat.
Oregano, with its decorative foliage and attractive flowers, is an ornament to any herb garden. Bees and insects swarm around the delicately fragrant butterfly flowers, which can be eaten. Here’s an overview of the common species available in our grocery store:
- Dost (Oregano vulgare): robust, native oregano that can be planted outdoors.
- Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana): annual oregano native to our latitudes. Marjoram is used in European cooking as a seasoning for fried potatoes, liver sausage, mushroom dishes and stews.
- Cretan marjoram (Origanum dictamus): Differs from other species by its woolly leaves, which give the herb a white sheen. Although it thrives at altitudes above 1,600 meters in its native habitat in the Diktys Mountains of Crete, it is not forest hardy. Cultivate this very aromatic tasting oregano in a tub and overwinter the plant indoors.
- Greek oregano (Origanum heracleoticum): Plant this hardy herb in a sunny spot in the herb garden and give it good winter protection. The flowers and leaves of this oregano have an exceptionally intense flavor and add an interesting note to pizza and ground meat dishes.
- Flower oregano (Origanum laevigatum aromaticum): can be planted in the herb garden. Not quite frost hardy, so provide adequate cold protection. Flower oregano is distinguished by its floral habit. It is more fragrant and aromatic than other oregano species and is an excellent bee pasture. As with all oregano species, the flowers are edible.
- Peppery Oregano ( Origanum samothrake): Very popular spice in starred cuisine because of its intense aroma. Keep relatively dry and overwinter indoors.
- Zaatar (Origanum syriacum): Typical seasoning herb for many oriental dishes. Since this oregano is not frost-resistant, it must be cultivated in a tub and overwintered indoors.
- Hot Oregano (Origanum hybride “hot & spicy): Hot spicy species that is excellent with fiery dishes such as chili con carne. Not completely hardy, so provide adequate winter protection.
Tips & Tricks
In addition to these species, there are many other varieties of oregano on the market, all with slightly different tastes. Experiment with the different species and discover the flavor diversity of this aromatic herb.
