Thyme: "The Most Popular Herb?"

Thyme is a perennial herb that is native to the Mediterranean with an ancient history as a medicinal and culinary herb.

Often called Garden or Common Thyme, this small low growing herb is a major contributor to the culinary world. The taste is robust and pungent, having a wide range of uses. In Ancient Persia, people used to eat fresh thyme as an appetizer.

There are close to a hundred different varieties of thyme, such as Lemon Thyme, which, along with Common Thyme, has become quite popular.

Being the most popular of the robust herbs, thyme is used to enhance poultry, meat, and fish as a stuffing and a dressing. At the Duke Mansion, chefs stuff smoked duck with several bundles of thyme. This results in a gallant, unique taste. Thyme also serves as an enhancement for butter, cheeses, breads, soups, and potatoes.

The medicinal uses of thyme are numerous, being and antioxidant, antiseptic, expectorant, and antibiotic. Thyme can be used for cough and digestive remedies to relieve symptoms of the cold and influenza. The active ingredient in thyme, thymus, is used in products like Listerine and Vicks Vapor Rub. A strong thyme tea can be used as a mouthwash or to treat sore gums.

To mix a cup of thyme tea, add one tablespoon of fresh thyme to one cup (8 oz.) of hot water. Let the tea steep for 5-10 minutes and then strain.

This versatile herb also works well against athlete’s foot. After a hard day of standing, make a hot solution and soak your feet.

The FDA has deemed Thyme safe for consumption; but, due to potential intestinal difficulties, do not take in large doses.

Thyme can be grown indoors and outdoors. It prefers well-drained soil, with a slight sandy texture. It will grow best in full sun, but it will tolerate partial shade. The more sun it receives the more vigorous the herb will become. Thyme is hardy to ‘Zone 4’ outdoors, but can be brought inside in containers during the winter and placed in a sunny area.

Thyme can be harvested throughout the year, but the best time to harvest the leaves is when the plant is actively growing and before it flowers. At this stage, the oils are at its highest levels. When clipping thyme for harvest, do not cut back to the ground; this causes the plant to go into shock and some plants never recover. Always leave three to four inches of foliage.

Drying thyme for storage is nice and simple. Cut a handful of thyme and bundle together with a rubber band. The rubber band will constrict as the stems dry and will hold the bundle together. Hang in a dry spot, like in your pantry or garage, for 10-14 days. Then strip the leaves off of the stems and store in a plastic resealable bag.

As with all herbs, wash thoroughly before use. Since insect problems are not very common with herbs, be wary of pesticide use. Personally, I use insecticidal soaps and lately have been getting great results from an all natural solution that deters insects. This solution is made by I Must Garden. A lot of herbs are used to deter insects in the vegetable garden because of the high levels of fragrant oils. Insects find this unappealing and will simply leave the area. Many people plant herbs in their gardens for this particular reason.