What Is Oregano?
Oregano is an herb composed of the fresh or dried leaves of the oregano plant. The plant has tiny leaves that lend a pungent aroma and strong flavor to a variety of savory foods. When in bloom, the plant sports pink or purple flowers, which are also edible. As an herb, it is gluten-free and suitable for vegan and paleo diets.
Varieties of Oregano
Common oregano is botanically known as Origanum vulgare, Greek for "joy of the mountains." It can be found growing wild on mountain sides of Greece and other Mediterranean countries where it is a herb of choice. It was relatively unused in America until returning World War II soldiers heightened the popularity of pizza. In fact, sales of oregano increased by 5,200 percent between 1948 and 1956 due to pizza mania.1
Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is considered to be the strongest-flavored variety. It is actually from a different botanical family and is also known as Mexican marjoram or Mexican wild sage. If your recipe calls for Mexican oregano specifically, try not to substitute another variety. If you are making your own chili powder, use Mexican oregano for its strong, peppery flavor.
Spanish (Origanum vivens) and Greek (Origanum heraclites) oregano have decreased depth of flavor.
Oregano is a fragrant herb that’s best known as an ingredient in Italian food.
Oregano essential oil is made by air-drying the leaves and shoots of the plant. Once they’re dried, the oil is extracted and concentrated by steam distillation.
Oregano contains compounds called phenols, terpenes, and terpenoids. They have powerful antioxidant properties and are responsible for its fragrance.
Fresh oregano is a great antibacterial agent. It has phytonutrients (thymol and carvacrol), which fight infections such as staph. It's loaded with antioxidants that help prevent cell damage, and it's an excellent source of fiber, vitamin K, manganese, iron, vitamin E, tryptophan and calcium.
Compounds in oregano have been found to kill the fungus candida albicans. The relationship between oregano and candida has been known in the world of traditional healing for centuries and is beginning to be acknowledged in modern medical studies. To obtain the candida treatment benefits, fresh or dried oregano can be made into a tea or added to food, or one can use oregano oil. Oregano oil, however, is strong and is best used under the direction of a physician or trained herbalist.
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