Greek Oregano

Greek Oregano is an herb with an assertive flavor. It’s at once woodsy and earthy and a bit medicinal, with a late bite of bitter pepper that builds as you eat it. The camphorous top note in its flavor is also the driving factor behind its aroma; the astringency elevates the fragrance and carries forward until the notes of pine and a hint of lemon kick in. Greek Oregano is rich in the volatile oils that make up its complex taste and smell. Ours delivers a minimum of 2.5% volatile oil by weight, though Greek Oregano can go upwards to 3.5% oil by weight.

Greek Oregano has been used around the world for thousands of years as a food, a medicine, and as a component in 16^th-century love spells. It only gained popularity in the United States at the end of World War II. American soldiers returned from overseas with expanded palates, thanks in no small part to Hector Boiardi, an Italian-American immigrant who was contracted as a food supplier to American troops. Boiardi sent his tinned spaghetti to thousands of soldiers, who wanted more food with “pizza herb” when they came back home. Oregano sales jumped 5,200% between 1948 and 1956, and Hector Boiardi Americanized his name to Chef Boyardee, launching his processed food empire that’s still going strong today.

Tips From Our Kitchen

Greek Oregano is ubiquitous to Mediterranean cooking, so embrace oregano if you’re considering the Mediterranean diet. Greek Oregano is outstanding infused into olive oil, or mixed into butter with some salt and pepper for a compound herb butter. It is a sturdy herb and can endure a long braise or roast, but use cautiously with long cook times. The volatile oils concentrate when oregano dries, which can create an unpleasantly strong and bitter flavor when it’s cooked too long. It can easily manage high heat and is great for foods on the grill—try grilling some meaty portobello mushrooms with olive oil infused with Greek Oregano for a rustic, woodsy side dish. You can also buy Ground Oregano if you'd like to use it as a fine grind. Do not confuse this herb with Mexican Oregano, which has a completely different flavor profile.

Our Greek Oregano is grown in Greece.

This product is certified kosher.

Hungry for more information?