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| Common Thyme |
Thymus vulgaris |
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Common thyme used to be called "Italian thyme" to which it is closely related.
Thyme is a parennial subshrub which is a natural part of "maca" - the evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region, particularly western one. Thyme belongs to the family Labiatae and grows as high as 50 cm. It has small, oval and eliptical, grey leaves which can be tomentous and pilose. Its flowers are blue-violet, small, and blossom into capitate inflorescences on tops of shoots.
Thyme contains ethereal oil (including thymol, cymol and carvacrol), tannins and other ingredients.
It is a medicinal and antiseptic plant.
3 spoonfuls of thyme (or one branch) per 1 kg of food can be used as spice. Thyme oil has a very aromatic fragrance and a strong, slightly bitter taste.
Thyme should be stored in dark, leakproof containers in order for it not to lose its aromatic oil.
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