Oregano, The Confusing Herb

by Alden Smith

What comes to mind when you think of oregano? Pizza? Tomato sauce? Do you picture it growing in your garden? Many people use oregano, and it is one of the world's favorite herbs. Oregano is more of a mystery to the people that use it than most any other herb. It has so many varieties that it is a whole genus of herbs, and these have been called oregano for their culinary uses. In this article, we will discuss oregano, its uses - both medicinal and culinary - and how to grow and harvest it. We even give you a wonderful recipe using oregano.

The History of Oregano

The one biggest thing that can be said about oregano is that it is a confusing herb. Botanist classify it L. graveolens HBK for the Mexican variety and classify both oregano and marjoram as Majorana hortensis. They point out that the marjoram referred to is the sweet variety that is native to the Mediterranean region. Oregano looks like marjoram, and has the same genus.

This confusion begins very early n history when Greeks and Romans made use of it. No one is sure what species was used, but think that perhaps it was Origanum vulgare, the common oregano that grows wild in the mountains of Greece. Its name means "joy of the mountain" derived from the Greek.

Much of its early use was for medicinal rather than culinary benefit. The Greeks made poultices of the leaves to heal sores and aching muscles. The Roman scholar Pliny recommended a poultice of oregano leaves for spider and scorpion bites. Not until the herbal written by Greek physician Discoridores wrote about it in the first century AD were more than one variety mentioned, and then as medicines.

Oregano became very popular in the United States around 1940, when GI's returning home longed for the taste of Italy. It isn't called the "pizza herb" for nothing.

Medicinal Uses

Modern herbalists recommend infusions of oregano leaves for indigestion, headache, coughs and to promote menstruation. It is deemed both a tonic and a stimulant. Today, people still use oil of oregano for toothache, putting a few drops of the oil on the aching tooth to relieve pain. To this day, poultices of oregano leaves are used to soothe pain. Whether or not these remedies work has not been determined. You have to think that if these remedies have come down through the years as they have, there must be some truth in them.

Culinary Uses of Oregano

Oregano is used to flavor tomato dishes and sauces, providing the hot, peppery flavor so common to Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. The leaves are used in Italy, Greece, Mexico, Spain, Cuba and Brazil. Wherever you find marjoram, you will find oregano in use. Oregano enhances cheese and eggs, and is used in omelets, frittatas and quiche. It gives breads and marinated or roasted vegetables their unique flavor. In meats, it is used in beef, pork, poultry and game for flavor. It is very good with shellfish. It combines well with garlic, basil, parsley and olive oil.

How To Grow Oregano

Oregano seeds are very tiny - about 130,000 to an ounce. Oregano is an Aromatic hardy perennial. It has erect, hairy square stems. It will grow to two feet in height, with sprawling leaves to about 18 inches. Flowers are long and tubular, with 1/4 inch long rose-purple to white flowers. Leaves are opposite, toothed or toothless, and up to 2 inches long. Seedlings are almost always available at major nurseries, but if you must resort to seed, the best way to plant is to sow on the open ground. Cover with cheesecloth to prevent wind blowing the seeds away. Remove when seeds are up and established.

Harvesting and Storage

Snip sprigs when plant is 6 inches high. Dry by hanging 5 to 6 sprigs together upside down in a cool dry place.

Cooking With Oregano

We offer here a simple Greek dish. The only problem you may have is finding fresh sardines.

Baked Sardines with Garlic & Oregano

2 pounds of fresh sardines
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
Rigani (Greek oregano)
5-6 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup of olive oil
1/2 cup of lemon juice
1/2 cup of water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Remove the scales and intestines from sardines.
Lay in baking dish and top with all ingredients to taste.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Oregano is a favorite of almost all chefs. Grow it, buy it fresh in the supermarket, but do use it. The great taste of oregano in its many forms can't be beat.