You probably know it from pizza and Italian-inspired pasta sauces. Less well known is perhaps that oregano is a frequent guest in Spanish cuisine and that it is part of traditional food and drinks even in the Nordic countries. The ancient Greeks said it had to have been invented by the very goddess of love, Aphrodite. Oregano thrives in a wide variety of environments, as long as it gets enough sun and barren soil. Different varieties grow as far north as the Arctic Circle, but admittedly, its taste becomes more intense when it is allowed to grow on the dry slopes in its “home environment” around the Mediterranean.
The Spanish name orégano is quite close to the Latin orīganum, which in turn is derived from the Greek words for mountain, óros, and light, gános. The name says a lot about where we can find wild-growing oregano regardless of latitude. It grows in the wild from the slopes around the Mediterranean and as far as the Arctic Circle in the north. It thrives on sunny bedrock, in rock crevices and rock piles where the soil is calcareous, coarse and dry. The plant, which grows up to 50 cm tall, has probably spread with calcareous rocks from southern regions – from the Mediterranean area, where the oregano originated. In July, you can quickly pick a winter’s supply of this beautiful herb that often has small violet or purple flowers at this time.
Some people seem to think that oregano arrived in northern Europe when we got our first taste of southern food such as pizza, but oregano was well-known on northern latitudes much earlier. Already in the 13th century, a Danish doctor named Henrik Harpestreng, the Nordic region’s first formally trained doctor, mentions oregano. During his time, the herb was mixed with honey and used against coughs and jaundice and to relieve toothache. Records of traditional foods also show that oregano has been known among most people in the Nordic countries and used in amongst other things foods related to the Christmas season. Marinated herring was also often seasoned with oregano.
Nordic names for oregano, such as mountain mint and forest mint, tell us that the plant belongs to the mint family – which the square stems of the plants also point to. It has been known for a long time that oregano has a connection with Spain and the Mediterranean – as the Swedish name “Spanish hops” shows. The hops plants have traditionally been used in beer brewing, but less well known is the fact that wild oregano was also used for the same purpose.
Spanish hops
Oregano that grows in hot, dry areas by the Mediterranean is undeniably more intense in aroma and taste than the Nordic varieties. Oregano needs sun to really come into its own. Barren, dry soil with lots of sun delivers a strong, intense taste.
In Spain, you will often be served oregano on top of salads, in soups and stews and for both fish and meat. Many season the famous chorizo sausage with oregano. Olives marinated in oil and oregano are a delicacy. This perennial herb can be used for so much.
If you want to taste the local oregano in Spain, find a stall in an outdoor market where dried oregano is sold, take it home and do as many Spaniards, especially those who live on the south coast of the country: Pour good olive oil in a small bowl, crush a little oregano between your fingers and sprinkle it over the oil. Dip good bread into the oil / spice mixture – and you will quickly know if you are dealing with quality goods. By the way, oil and oregano are an excellent alternative to butter on bread if you are going to eat it with lunch or dinner.
The oregano plant was highly valued already by the ancient Greeks. It was said to have been invented by the very goddess of love, Aphrodite. Much later, in the 16th century, the English herbalist Nicholas Culpepper recommended tea drawn on oregano leaves to cleanse the body and to combat the effects of snake bites. In many places, by the way, oregano is used to keep harmful insects at bay. And ants are supposed to dislike oregano scents. Oregano has generally been seen as a bit of a universal remedy in many corners of the world.
Like thyme, oregano contains thymol, which according to the Environmental Protection Agency supposedly works well as a disinfectant. This is probably why tea of oregano throughout history has been used for infections of the mouth and throat. Used sparingly, this herbal tea is supposed to also contribute to restful sleep – which might be useful during these hot summer nights? Nowadays, we have found that oregano offers strong antioxidants and therefore can make an ever so small contribution to personal health.
Be that as it may, oregano thrives like many of us both in the Nordic countries and in southern latitudes. In the north, the taste of oregano tends to be mild and round, in the south fiery and strong. Enjoy!
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