Oregano, an herb scented with history: what are its secrets?

Etymology of the name, culture and symbolism

“Joy of the mountains”, is this l&' etymology of the name of an aromatic herb that has always been present on our tables, oregano.

Quets&' aromatic herb is an indispensable element of our cuisine: a real Neapolitan pizza cannot exist without oregano, just as a pizzaiola can't be imagined without its intense and fragrant aroma.

Oregano was already widely cultivated and appreciated at the dawn of ancient civilizations such as the Egyptian one, and was used not only for culinary purposes, but also for medicinal purposes.

In ancient Greece, newlyweds were adorned with wreaths made of oregano, considered a symbol of fertility and prosperity. The ancient Romans used it in the kitchen for the preparation of numerous dishes

L&' oregano in detail: plant, flowers and difference with marjoram

Oregano, whose scientific name is Origanum vulgare, is a perennial shrub of the Labiateae family.

The stem is erect, quadrangular, 50-80 cm tall. The leaves are oval lanceolate.

The flowers are collected in panicles placed at the top of the stems and of a beautiful white-pinkish-red color.

The plant is often confused with marjoram (Origanum majorana which is from the same family) because the appearance is very similar, but the taste and aroma are very different as marjoram does not contain the essential oils of oregano.

Oregano in practice: from ants to Mediterranean cuisine

Oregano is not loved by ants: just sprinkle it on window sills and balconies and remember to replace it often to keep them away.

Cultivated alongside other herbs, this plant performs an antiparasitic action without side effects.

If you want to infuse roasted foods with only a light scent, you can burn sprigs of oregano on the barbecue embers.

Oregano is widely used to flavor meat, fish, mushrooms and vegetables.

It is a fundamental ingredient of traditional pizza and can also be used in the preparation of tomato sauce, fresh seasonal salads and many other Mediterranean dishes such as pizzaiola meat; it is also used to flavor both cooked and raw dishes, cheeses, tomato salads, to preserve vegetables in oil and vinegar, in sauces and digestive liqueurs.

To keep the aroma intact, we recommend keeping the jar in a pantry without exposing it to light and hermetically closing the cap once the product has been used.

The beneficial properties of &' oregano

Oregano is much more than a simple aromatic herb: it is in fact rich in properties thanks to its active ingredients, phenols: thymol and carvacrol, iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamin C contained in the flowering tops and leaves.

In September 2010, in the journal “Foodbourne Pathogensand Desease”, a study conducted by Spanish researchers was published in the journal “Foodbourne Pathogensand Desease”, showing that, thanks to phenols, oregano inhibits the growth of bacteria and molds typical of food contamination.

Another study published in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”, conducted by researchers from the University of Bonn in Germany and ETH Zurich in Switzerland, has made it possible to identify in Oregano a substance, known as beta caryophyllene, which seems to be able to combat certain inflammatory states.

Oregano is also widely used in the cosmetic field: in fact, it seems to act on peripheral circulation, especially when metabolism is slow and water retention is concentrated on the hands and feet.

In thermal baths, Oregano oil is prepared to perform draining massages.

The oregano infusion added to the bath water has a strong relaxing power, while if used to wash the hair it strengthens it.