Dozens of varieties are available, but those interested in the best culinary thymes have only a handful of choices. Those best for flavor, as well as ease of use, are the low-growing, shrubby ones known as English, French, lemon, or winter thyme.
What is the most common thyme for cooking?
1. Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) As you might guess, common thyme is the most widely used culinary thyme. Common thyme grows well in most climates, ranging from zones 3 to 8.
What types of thyme are edible?
But when it comes to the kitchen, the players are few. There are only about half a dozen considered suitable for cooking. Out of this group, I find four to be most useful: French thyme, lemon thyme, oregano-scented thyme, and caraway thyme. French thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is the one that most people know.
Which thyme is best for cooking French or English?
French thyme is a variety of English thyme that has narrower, grey-green leaves and a slightly sweeter flavor. It is often preferred by chefs, and is excellent for seasoning meat, fish, soup, and vegetables. Just remember that its English counterpart is not only more robust, but has better cold tolerance.
Is English or German thyme better?
German Thyme has tiny leaves when compared to Common thyme. But the leaves are packed with more aromatic oils than many larger-leaved varieties. English Thyme is a smaller low growing plant with tiny leaves and an intense flavor. Essential in chowders, and delicious sprinkled on potatoes for roasting.
Are there different types of thyme?
There are many different varieties of Thyme oil available. Red Thyme is the crude distillate of the distillation process, and as the name suggests, is red in colour. It is more aggressive in its chemical make up than other variants and it is high in toxic phenols.
Is it OK to eat thyme stems?
The stems of thyme are edible but are typically too woody to enjoy. The leaves are really what you are after, but leaving the leaves attached to the stem saves prep time. You can just remove and discard the stem and any attached leaves after cooking.
Can you eat common thyme?
The aromatic foliage of thyme will fill the air with scent on a warm sunny day, while its flowers are a magnet to wildlife. Its edible leaves are used fresh or dried to flavour soups, stews, fish, meat, sausages, stuffings and vegetable dishes.
What is the difference between thyme and German thyme?
French thyme is also called summer thyme and it offers a flavor that is slightly subtler than that of English thyme. German thyme has smaller, slightly rounded leaves than the other varieties, but the foliage is packed with lots of flavor. German thyme is also called winter thyme because it is very cold hardy thymes.
What do you use German thyme for?
German Thyme produces dainty, flavorful leaves that are excellent used for cooking or for tea. Harvest as needed and cut back to about 3″ (1cm) two or three times per season to encourage thicker growth. Easily dried for long-term storage. Plant is perennial in regions with mild winters.
What is the use of French thyme?
Thyme is taken by mouth for bronchitis, whooping cough, sore throat, colic, arthritis, upset stomach, stomach pain (gastritis), diarrhea, bedwetting, a movement disorder in children (dyspraxia), intestinal gas (flatulence), parasitic worm infections, and skin disorders.
Can you eat English thyme?
English thyme is a low-growing plant with fragrant leaves. This herb goes well with just about everything. Add it (fresh or dried) to blended herb mixtures, or use in soups, sauces, beans, meat dishes, and more.
Is silver thyme good for cooking?
Silver Thyme is a delicious addition to any culinary herb garden and has a dynamic appearance to boot. Grows in South Texas best during Fall and Spring, preferring slightly moist conditions in well drained, rocky soil.
Is silver edge thyme edible?
Silver Edge Thyme Plants
The silver edged leaves have a brighter white variegation than other silver Thymes. A flavorful culinary herb, it can be used for any recipe calling for the lemony flavor of Thyme and works well with Parsley to season meats, stews and soups.
What is the difference between white and red thyme?
White Thyme essential oil is actually Red Thyme essential oil that has been filtered and re-distilled. This results in a virtually colourless oil which has a milder aroma and action. It is generally considered to be safer to use than Red Thyme due to the reduced level of phenols.
Is thyme an anti-inflammatory?
Thyme’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may also help with skin conditions. It may help get rid of bacterial infections while also helping to reduce inflammation. As a result, it can help with the irritation and inflammation in conditions like eczema and acne.
What is the difference between thyme and wild thyme?
—Medicinal Action and Uses—In medicine, Wild Thyme or Serpolet has the same properties as Common Thyme, but to an inferior degree. It is aromatic, antiseptic, stimulant, antispasmodic, diuretic and emmenagogue.
What does thyme pair well with?
Thyme is also used to flavor cheeses, lentils, and even tea. Since thyme pairs so well with eggs, tomatoes, and cheese, it makes an excellent addition to omelets and egg strata. This herb is also an ideal seasoning for poultry; it can be found in a poultry seasoning blends as well as recipes for stuffing.
What are the side effects of thyme?
Possible Side Effects
Commonly used for cooking, thyme is considered safe when used in normal food amounts. It also appears to be well-tolerated in dietary supplement forms. However, the overconsumption of thyme may cause upset stomach, cramps, headaches, and dizziness.
Can you cook with wild thyme?
Using wild thyme in the kitchen
They can be eaten cooked or raw, they are delicious when fresh. Wild thyme leaves, just like common thyme, are perfect for seasoning barbecues, gravy, fish and even infusions. Wild thyme flowers are also used for their fragrance, although not as intense as in leaves.
Does thyme lower blood pressure?
Thyme is a flavorful herb packed with numerous healthy compounds. Rosmarinic acid is one such compound. Research has linked it to many benefits, such as reduced inflammation and blood sugar levels, as well as increased blood flow. It may also help reduce blood pressure ( 25 , 26 ).
Should you cut back thyme?
Thyme plants, like most woody herbs, do best when they are pruned regularly. Taking the time to trim thyme not only creates a nicer looking plant, but also helps improve the amount you can harvest from the plant.
Will thyme come back every year?
A majority of herbs are perennials throughout most of the United States. That means they come back year after year and usually get bigger or spread in territory each year. Some of our most-used cooking herbs are perennials, including sage, oregano and thyme.
Can I eat German thyme?
Thyme is an easy and practical herb to grow. Highly aromatic, it enhances meat dishes, eggs, cheeses, soups, and sauces, and it is a primary component of both Bouquet Garni and Herbes de Provence. Use it to elevate the flavor of good ole’ beef stew, too.
What does English thyme taste like?
Common thyme, or English, and summer thyme have many other variants. Common thyme leaves are very small, spear-shaped, intensely fragrant in the air, and look like a bushy subshrub with woody stems. This thyme lends an earthy, minty, and hint of lemony flavor.
What does French thyme taste like?
The taste of thyme is very distinctive as it offers a fresh, earthy, and almost floral taste. It has been compared to the likes of lavender and also tastes similar to rosemary. It is a perennial herb that belongs to the Genus known as Thymus. Thymus belongs to the larger herb family of mint known as Lamiaceae.
What does French thyme look like?
This includes any thyme called English or French, or similarly contradictorily Summer or Winter. It’s also known as garden thyme. This type features deep green, slightly glossy leaves that grow in large, circular mounds and flower in light purple blooms.
What is big leaf thyme good for?
This perennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family. is known as Poor man’s pork, or broad leaf thyme in Barbados. It is widely used in folk medicine to treat conditions like cold, asthma, constipation, headache, cough, fever and skin diseases.
Is there a difference between creeping thyme and thyme?
The basic difference between them is that some are grown for culinary use and others are used primarily in landscaping. Both types are edible, but creeping thymes are usually small and tedious to harvest and are therefore more valuable as ground covers.
Which thyme is not edible?
All thymes (and there are over 350 species in the genus Thymus) are edible and this includes varieties usually thought of as ornamental or medicinal.
What is silver thyme used for?
Uses. Makes a wonderfully fragrant groundcover or container plant. Attractive in rock gardens and between stepping stones. Dried leaves may be used to flavor poultry, fish, meat and vegetables.
Can you cook with ornamental thyme?
Silver Edge: A beautiful variety, this thyme selection is primarily ornamental, though it’s certainly edible. The small, green leaves are edged in white, making it a real beauty in the garden.
What does silver thyme look like?
Silver Thyme is a bushy-growing selection of Lemon Thyme, useful both as an ornamental perennial and culinary herb. Plants form a low, shrubby evergreen clump of tiny green leaves, variegated with silvery-white. Clusters of lilac-pink flowers appear in summer.
Can you cook with variegated thyme?
I came across 8 thyme varieties for cooking as I was planning my own little herb container garden. But the ones I absolutely must have on hand are : the Common Thyme, Lemon Thyme and Variegated Thyme variety. I chose the latter just because it is so pretty, both in the containers and in our dishes.
What is the difference between thyme linalool and thyme thymol?
linalool’s aroma is softer and woodier than thyme ct. thymol. With its soothing scent and gentle touch, this variety of thyme can help cleanse germs while treating skin and mucous membranes tenderly. “Linalool” is a component that helps make lavender relaxing, so turn to thyme ct.
Which essential oil is best for hair regrowth?
Here are the 6 best essential oils to help stop hair loss and regrow hair:
- Peppermint oil (Mentha Piperita)
- Rosemary oil (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
- Thyme oil (Thymus Vulgaris)
- Cedarwood oil (Cedrus Atlantica)
- Ylang Ylang oil (Cananga Odorata)
- Lemon oil (Citrus Limonum)
What is red thyme?
An extract of the Thymus vulgaris, the Red Thyme Essential Oil belongs to an aromatic herb of the mint family – native to Southern Europe. It has a sweet yet sharp, herbaceous aroma with subtle sweet and spicy overtones. Apart from culinary purposes, it is commonly used for its medical applications.
Is dried thyme good for you?
Thyme also contains a variety of minerals and vitamins that promote good health. Thyme is full of vitamin C for immune support, potassium for healthy cells, and manganese for bone development and blood clotting.
Is thyme good for lungs?
Thyme helps fight respiratory infections and is a natural expectorant that serves as an antiseptic and helps expulse mucus. It’s also good for soothing coughs and fighting nasal congestion.
Can you eat thyme raw?
Can you eat raw thyme leaves? Thyme (thymus vulgaris) is an herb that can be consumed fresh or dried. Like other herbs and spices, it’s packed with disease-fighting nutrients and antioxidants. The easiest way to make this common herb a part of your regular diet to make sure you keep some dried thyme in your kitchen.
Is thyme poisonous?
Thyme is possibly safe when used as medicine, short-term. It might cause allergic reactions, dizziness, and stomach upset in some people.
What is thyme called in English?
Thymus vulgaris (common thyme, English thyme, summer thyme, winter thyme, French thyme, or garden thyme) is a commonly used culinary herb. It also has medicinal uses. Common thyme is a Mediterranean perennial which is best suited to well-drained soils and full sun.
Do you wash thyme?
After harvesting thyme, wash it and shake off the excess water. You can choose to dry the entire stem or remove the tiny leaves. The leaves will dry more quickly off the stem but they will remove more easily from an already dried piece of the herb.
How do you store fresh thyme?
To store sage, thyme, rosemary, mint, or chives: Clean and dry the herbs very well (see below for cleaning tips). Place in a pile in a slightly damp paper towel and wrap them up. Place inside of a plastic bag with a few punctured holes. Keep in the refrigerator about 1-2 weeks or more.
How do you pick fresh thyme?
Simply push the end of the thyme stem through a hole and carefully but forcefully pull the stem through. The leaves will be collected in the strainer, ready to use whole or be chopped. No more annoying herb picking. #yourewelcome.
Which herbs do not go together in cooking?
Which Herbs Do Not Go Together? | Garden Guide
- Fennel.
- Rue, Anise and Dill.
- Garlic.
- Mint.
- Chives.
- Rosemary.
- Basil.
Do rosemary and thyme go together?
Thyme. Thyme has a sweet, nutty and lightly spicy flavour, making it great for marinades and most meat dishes. It goes well with these herbs: Basil, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and tarragon.
Do rosemary and thyme taste good together?
Rosemary. Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with oregano, basil, sage, parsley, nutmeg, thyme, cumin, star anise, and mint.
Is thyme a natural antibiotic?
Thyme is known for its antibacterial properties, and it might have a future as an acne-fighting ingredient. When thyme is steeped in alcohol for days or weeks, it turns into a solution known as a tincture. In an older 2010 study , thyme essential oil was found to have antibacterial activity against P.
Is thyme good for weight loss?
May Aid in Weight Loss
This herbal remedy can suppress the appetite, yet still may boost energy and deliver valuable nutrients, plausibly leading to less overeating and snacking between meals. An animal study found that thymol, one of the major constituents of thyme, prevents high fat diet-induced obesity.
Is thyme good for hair growth?
Thyme can help promote hair growth by both stimulating the scalp and actively preventing hair loss. Like cedarwood oil, thyme oil was also found to be helpful in treating alopecia areata .
Do Italians cook with thyme?
One of the many fresh herbs used in many Italian kitchens. The aromatic flavor of thyme complements Southern Italian sauces of hot peppers and eggplants, as well as being a primary herb in soups and stews.
Is fresh thyme better than dried?
While you can use fresh herbs, after cooking them for 10 minutes or longer, the natural oils that make the herbs taste fresh are released. This means that even if fresh herbs are used, they will have the same impact as dried ones. In stovetop recipes, dried herbs generally work the same, or better than fresh herbs.
How many varieties of thyme are there?
There are over 300 thyme varieties in the mint family of Lamiaceae, of which thyme is a member. All have been prized for centuries for their fragrance, flavor, and ornamental habit. With this dizzying array of thyme varieties, there is a possible specimen for nearly every climate and landscape.