CAROLINA HERBS!!!

 

OREGANO?? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE??

Oregano seems to be one those herbs that people don't seem to differentiate one from another when using them. For instance, when making pizza and the recipe calls for oregano, which oregano is the recipe referring to? With just about all herbs, there's more than one type of the herb. Do you wanna know the difference oregano's and what they are used for? OK, now that you're on board, here we go!

BRISTOL CROSS OREGANO has beautiful Asian looking pinkish-purple flowers and a mild oregano flavor and aroma. Bristol Cross Oregano is used in tomato based dishes, pasta, rice, sauces, and vinegars.

CRINKLE LEAF MARJORAM is a low mounding Marjoram with attractive, golden crinkled leaves.

Use this oregano in pastas, tomato sauces, meat and vegetable dishes and herbal vinegars.

GOLDEN OREGANO (Origanum vulgare “Aureum”) use in tomato dishes, rice, pasta, sauces, dressings, vinegars

GREEK OREGANO (Origanum heracleoticum ) is as essential to pizza as Mexican oregano is to chili powder. You may use the two types interchangeably but using one specifically increases the authenticity of certain dishes. MEXICAN OREGANO has a more earthy flavor with less hint of mint in the aroma. Use it for your Mexican cooking. Set them side by side and you will quickly see the difference. MEXICAN OREGANO has an abundance of what appear to be tiny flower buds and leaves while GREEK OREGANO has a more cut-leaf appearance.

Greek oregano tends to be the most savory and earthy, while Italian is milder

Greek Oregano’s flavor is hot and peppery.

Its spicy yet refreshing flavor contributes to Italian, Greek, and Spanish cuisine, as well as Mexican. Complementary spices to Oregano are Thyme, Parsley, Chives, Basil, and Chili. Oregano is delicious in bread, pasta dishes, stuffing, and of course pizza.

ITALIAN OREGANO Origanum majoricum.

A delicious culinary herb that is essential to your Italian dishes. Italian Oregano is an excellent variety with a strong spicy flavor used in Italian cooking. A native of the Mediterranean region, Italian’ Oregano – the most famous variety in the oregano family, has the nick-name “Pizza Herb.” It is perfect for Italian, Greek, Spanish and Mexican dishes

It is spicy enough to be delicious in Mexican cuisine, like salsas or chili-flavored dishes, yet mild enough to be the best Oregano variety for Italian and Greek food.

MEXICAN OREGANO ( Lippia graveolens) is used to flavor pork, fish, beans, stews, soups, tacos, salsas, tomato based sauces and as an ingredient in seasoning blends. It is even used to flavor a cheese cake and make a herbal tea called té de pais in some rural areas. Mexican Oregano's flavor is a sharp classic Oregano with citrus notes and a hint of sweetness. The bite of the volatile oils in this aromatic herb is so strong that a pinch chewed in the mouth causes a mild numbness to the tongue.

SWEET MARJORAM – (Origanum majorana)

A near relative of Oregano, Marjoram is sweeter and milder than its cousin. Marjoram blends particularly well with meats, tomato, and rice dishes, and is found in French, Italian, and Greek cooking. Try Sweet Marjoram with poultry, mushrooms, egg dishes, potatoes and herbed butters.

Besides being delicious in savory dishes, Sweet Marjoram is extolled for its soothing properties, and is often steeped into a tea to relieve headaches, tension, nausea and PMS.

TURKISH OREGANO (Origanum tyttanticum ) This one has a strong but not-too-hot flavor. It is the favorite for Mediterranean cooking

Turkish Oregano is an especially sweet, spicy, but not-too-hot variety of Origanum. Turkish Oregano is a favorite in meat dishes and pizza sauces or any Mediterranean recipe

VARIEGATED OREGANO a low mounding habit and milder flavor than most oregano's.

use in fresh salads, vegetable dishes, salsa, meat dishes .

It has a milder flavor than most Oregano, yet still very flavorful. The tender, delicately textured leaves are perfect for fresh salads and vegetable dishes. Makes a nice salsa as well.