Wakefield Museums and Castles

More rain!

So today, let’s think about warmer, sunnier weather. We'll look at oregano.

If you think of it as being a solely Mediterranean plant, you’d be wrong. Oregano is actually native to Britain. It was originally known in England as 'wild' marjoram.

Oregano is native to Europe and the Mediterranean. It is a bushy, woody-based, herbaceous, aromatic, perennial sub-shrub.  It prefers to grow in full sun or partial shade, in any aspect. It likes well-drained, non-clay soil the best.

Oregano grows to a height and spread of 90cm / 3 ft. It has woody upright stems with small, oval, dark-green, opposite leaves. The leaves are approximately 1 to 4 cm long. They have a balsamic smell.

The small tubular flowers are 3 to 4 mm long. They appear in late summer and are produced on erect spikes. The flowers can be white, pink or light purple.

Oregano has creeping roots and small black seeds.

The leaves of oregano are used as a culinary herb. The dried leaves can have a stronger flavour than fresh ones.

Oregano has an earthy, warm and slightly bitter taste. The taste can vary in strength, depending on the variety and where it is grown.

Oregano is used in a wide variety of dishes. It is used particularly in Mediterranean and Latin American cuisines. Oregano is a staple in tomato-based dishes like pizza and pasta sauces. It is excellent with meats such as chicken, lamb and pork. It can also be used with roasted vegetables, egg dishes, stuffings, and salads.

It can be added to bread, pizza and scone dough. It can also be infused in oil for dressings and marinades.

Oregano can be used as a natural dye. It makes a grey or reddish-brown colour. It can also give an intense black colour depending on the process and mordant used. However, the colour is often not strong or long-lasting.

Oregano is associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. She supposedly created oregano as a symbol of happiness and joy for humanity. The ancient Greeks and Romans wove wreaths of oregano to crown newlyweds. They believed it would bless their marriage with happiness.

Oregano's sweet smell also meant that it was commonly used as a strewn-herb in churches.

In the Middle Ages, oregano was considered a magical herb. It was thought to ward off witches, demons and evil spells. The smoke from burning oregano was also thought to drive away demons.

In Poland, oregano was thought to protect a home from poisonous reptiles.

Oregano provides nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects.

For centuries, oregano was used to treat many medical issues. These ranged from skin infections, wounds and sore throats to measles, dropsy, jaundice and gynaecological problems. The ancient physician Hippocrates used it to treat digestive and respiratory issues.

Culpeper’s Complete Herbal (1653) stated “There is scarcely a better herb growing for relieving a sour stomach, loss of appetite, cough, consumption of the lungs; it cleanses the body of choler, expels poison, remedies the infirmities of the spleen, and helps the bites of venomous beasts, it provokes urine and the terms in women, helps the dropsy, scurvy, scabs, itch, and yellow jaundice”.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.