Is This True?

Origanum heracleoticum

Is True Greek Oregano better for use in cooking than Common Oregano, Origanum vulgare? You tell me!

Okay. If you've never had True Greek Oregano, you'll not be able to tell me. So permit me this opportunity to tell you. It is true.

O. heracleoticum is more aromatic and peppery than the common-- vulgare-- sort. It holds its flavor through cooking processes. (It's crazy good fresh on homemade pizza.) Home-dried is far superior to store-bought, which is a mix of common and Mexican oregano.

Now, if you don't want to take my word for it, here's a paraphrase of what one of last Saturday's guests said when he tasted a few leaves, "Wow. I've never tasted oregano this punchy. There's so much more to it than the oregano I'm used to." By the way, he left with a pile of fresh and some I ripped out so he can start a pot of True Greek.

I'm getting ready to cut this mess of True Greek back and dry it in the dehydrator. I'll probably do this three or four times over the growing season. (Dried True Greek Oregano: Christmas presents!)

Oregano is a perennial. Here in Mississippi we can pick fresh all year long, although it does die back considerably in the winter. But it comes on strong in the spring!

I got my seed from Botanical Interests. It did take a season to become well established. 

Thus concludes our herb interlude. Back to planting. 

True Greek Oregano

One dehydrator batch

True Greek oregano is a wonderful herb. From Botanical Interests:

Perennial. True Greek oregano is the superior, true culinary type of oregano prized by Italian and Greek chefs. It is highly aromatic and flavorful, combining superbly with fresh tomatoes or tomato sauces, egg and cheese combinations such as omelets and quiche, marinated vegetables, meat, fish and poultry. A good container variety. 

[snip]

Cut branches when needed after the plant is at least 6" tall. Some oregano experts claim the best flavor comes just before plant flowers. Pruning off the branches also encourages fullness and fresh, new growth on the plant.

I'm with the experts on this one. I cut some yesterday, put it in the dehydrator, and left for about an hour. We returned to an oregano aroma home. Wonderful!