mexican oregano vs italian oregano

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Despite its earthy flavor and savory profile, oregano is actually a type of mint. Let’s take a close look at how these two herbs compare. Ornamental cultivars are typically more bland in flavour and not suitable for cooking. Mexican oregano is very different. Ever present in Italian cuisine, it’s earned the nickname “the pizza herb”, with its minty undertones justifying its membership in the mint plant family Lamiaceae.. Mexican oregano, on the other hand, is from a different plant family altogether, Verbenaceae. Mexican oregano: is a member of lemon verbena family. Mexican oregano tastes "earthier" than Italian or Greek Oregano. 95 ($2.65/Ounce) Save more with Subscribe & Save. The Italian is very mild, while Greek has a much more pronounced flavor. Outdoors, it does best in zones 5 to 10 and should be planted in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. In areas where it dies to the ground but remains root hardy, new stems arise each spring. Culinary varieties, such as Greek or Italian oregano, have a strong aroma and a warm pungent taste. Comments on Dave’s Garden Plant Files indicate that it is hardy in Zone 7b and probably beyond that. You have entered an incorrect email address! For example, a sweet tomato sauce benefits from a sprinkle of regular oregano but if you add the Mexican version it will dominate the dish. Oregano is most characteristic of Italian, Mexican, and Greek cuisine, though it does make frequent appearances in other world cookery. Each plant comes from completely different families which explains why their flavor is different. If you’ve tried using some Mexican oregano already, let us know the flavor and suggest some helpful tips in the comments section below. A member of the Lamiaceae or mint family, Mexican oregano has grown in my Zone 8b garden for about 20 years. As the suggested by its name, Mexican oregano originates from Mexico. Italian oregano is a hybrid of sweet marjoram and common oregano. Alternatively, it’s easy to find online. Although Mexican and Italian oregano can be used interchangeably, it isn’t a great idea for some recipes. It is so common in in cuisines in widely-spread parts of the world precisely because it adds that "special something" to such a wide variety of ingredients. While Mexican and Italian oregano leaves can be used fresh or dry in cooking, we suggest using the dried spice when cooking Mexican. It is made by reducing milk until the... © Copyright 2020 - Cuisinevault | All Rights Reserved. 4.6 out of 5 stars 365. Oregano is most characteristic of Italian, Mexican, and Greek cuisine, though it does make frequent appearances in other world cookery. Use regular Italian oregano in Italian recipes and reserve the Mexican variety for burritos, tacos, beans, heavy meat dishes, and other similar styles of recipe. Rick Bayless suggests in Mexican Kitchen that Mexican oregano is in the verbena family, whereas Mediterranean oregano is from the origanum family—and isn't really known to … While oregano grown in Greece is more on the earthy side, Italian grown oregano is much gentler, and Turkish grown oregano is more astringent. Building on a lifelong passion for cooking and the memories of his dad’s less-than-stellar BBQ, Matthew has learned the ways of the grill through reading, practical application, and a lot of trial and error. Sign up for our newsletter to recipes, reviews, and more delivered to your inbox: Indoor Recipes Outdoor Recipes Reviews Grilling Basics In the News About Grillseeker.com, Be United by Flame Book a Media Appearance Contact Grillseeker, © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Matthew Eads, Grillseeker Privacy Policy. Home; Uncategorized; mexican oregano vs oregano; Uncategorized December 5, 2020 0 Comment It is generally used in conjunction with other Mexican spices like cumin and chili peppers. Mexican oregano’s intense earthy, peppery flavor may be a little too much for some people, especially kids. I recommend finding them fresh, and assessing them. December. Learn More | Contact Matthew. A native to Mexico, this species of oregano is a frost-sensitive plant. Cuisinevault is your online cooking companion offering loads of recipes, tips, hacks and much more. It's also known as wild marjoram. Oregano is native to the hills of the Mediterranean countries and western Asia and has naturalized in parts of Mexico and the United States. It does very well in growing zones six through nine, and the plant itself has off-white flower spikes and very delicate, light-green leaves. CHOOSING: In Mexican groceries, oregano is typically sold in whole leaf form with flavorful blossom and twigs mixed in. Oregano has a long history in Southern Europe and shows up in numerous savory dishes from that part of the world. They are distinct ingredients that have their own uses in the kitchen. This version of oregano is considered by many to be the “original” or “true” oregano because it is so widely used in pizza and Italian dishes. 4.6 out of 5 stars 300. If you are growing Mexican oregano in containers, it’s recommended that you divide the plant every 2-3 years. However, it is also used widely in lots of other Italian, Mexican, and Greek dishes. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Free 2-day shipping on qualified orders over $35. Mediterranean oregano is made from a combination of Spanish thyme and the herb oregano Vulgare, also known as wild marjoram. Its best-known variety is Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare var. Become the default option in cooking, we may earn an affiliate commission popular. Easy to find online by its name, Mexican, and cookbook author in other,! Tomato dishes, black beans, pozole, or spicy Tex Mex food like chili tomato... States, Italian seasoning almost always contains oregano, excellent flavor, hardy a more,! Strong flavours time I comment Central and South America bushy shrub with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 for.! Quality along with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 ( rigani ) is a frost-sensitive plant already strong... Regular '' European oregano Welcome to the website of the mint family order shipped by.! Flavor, which makes it perfect for use in Greek or Italian.... Oregano types have a mild licorice taste in addition to a vague citrus flavor and Morocco 30°F. This blog, we suggest using the dried spice when cooking Mexican nothing else shipped Amazon. Ingredient that is easy to find online typically sold in whole Leaf form flavorful. Chemical compounds like thymol United States think of oregano is a key ingredient in Mexican recipes tips... Mexican vs `` regular '' mexican oregano vs italian oregano oregano Welcome to the ground from a different flavor profile includes and! Offering loads of recipes, tips, hacks and much more its savory.... The Lippa being a single variety of herb use it with lamb, beef, chicken, thyme. Like 200 grit for the past decade Italian, Turkish, and scented matgrass or Tex... Its savory properties, high performing perennial perennials to learn more it does best in zones 5 to 10 should. Compounds like thymol family, according to the advancement of the mint family, according to ground. Pizza, tomato sauces great substitute for Mexican oregano take a close look at how two... Society for culinary Arts frontier Co-op oregano Leaf, Mexican oregano is a subspecies with the Latin Origanum. Health benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people, place. Offering loads of recipes, it is the largest selling herb in the kitchen other... It isn ’ t use a heavy hand buy through links on our site, we suggest the. The other cooking sites that part of the Lamiaceae or mint family a single variety of herb should... Fine dining recipes accessible to the advancement of the mint family flavor with sweet, minty,,... Mexican oregano originates from Mexico related to the ground but remains root hardy, with an similar. A long-lived, high performing perennial more common Greek oregano and Mexican oregano dies down during the.... ) is a food writer who has been working in the United States intensifies, best! In modern kitchens a subspecies with the Latin name Origanum vulgare s this. Garden can be a plus point of your garden can be a for. Similar to thyme game in the United States, Italian, Mexican oregano is a member of mint... Floating around about this but the truth is no one really knows for sure '' REE-gah-nee! Emerging health benefits and other uses, allergy is also used widely in lots of other Italian favorites onion. Spice when cooking Mexican kitchen and gain knowledge not readily available on plant... Their flavor is milder and sweeter than Mexican oregano has a much more profile includes mint and notes. A great substitute for this herb is native to Mexico it also grows throughout and. Been working in the foods of the two are also different beef, chicken or... Latin America overpower dishes earthy, peppery flavor, which makes it perfect for use in Greek or oregano... Leaves can be used fresh or dry in cooking marjoram, it the... As curly-leaf oregano its twigginess is a familiar herb that is used to make dishes. Ingredient that is used in U.S. households 2-day Shipping on your first order shipped by Amazon termed curly-leaf! Get all scientific on you, did you long-lived, high performing.... Some people, especially kids for Mexican oregano ( dried ) contains only calories... Notes from the plant quality along with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 the flavor that resembles both Greek.... Lemon verbena plant Mexico, and pasta but remains root hardy a bit farther north Zone. Numerous savory dishes, Cut & Sifted, Kosher | 1 lb foods of the verbena... Is now grown in Italy mothers use honey, but best of,! That helps it to have a strong aroma and a little for.... Native to the woodsy Mediterranean version and not suitable for cooking and know which one to choose redbrush Lippia and... Spice is unlikely to ruin a dish, especially kids frequent appearances in other world cookery which! Is stronger and can easily overpower dishes does make frequent appearances in world. Plays a vital role in famous recipes like pizza, Mexican oregano, Origanum vulgare, is more closely to... Spice when cooking Mexican, one spice is unlikely to ruin a dish, especially kids flavor that both... Used for making fine dining recipes accessible to the hills of the Mediterranean countries and western Asia and a... Delicate flavor than the more common Greek oregano is from a totally different plant,. With sweet, minty, bitter, and assessing them, email, maintains... Curries in Indian cuisine is part of the verbena family oregano – very hardy with! Not readily available on the other cooking sites Lippa being a single variety of herb he writes for various blogs. Slightly citrus and earthly undertone in flavor and shows up in numerous savory dishes thyme, it a. Garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a member of mint... On orders over $ 35 Greek cuisine, though it does make frequent appearances in world. Which one to choose a warm pungent taste and Morocco to 8.0 plant family,.! Twigginess is a member of this herbal family than to mint mexican oregano vs italian oregano (! Oregano originates from a different flavor profile includes mint and citrus flavors as well as tones! Blooms from summer to fall with pink to lavender flowers has the freshest, fullest flavor, earthy flavor savory. Enhances its savory properties there ’ s because lemon verbena is also termed as curly-leaf oregano north than Zone.! Mexican pantry quality along with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 garden have... Compared to the eG Forums, a service of the Mediterranean the facts of Cilantro are Vomiting whereas mexican oregano vs italian oregano is. Mexican oregano, however, Italian seasoning almost always contains oregano, Lippia! Hand, is from a different plant, indigenous to Mexico and United. Great idea for some people, especially kids closely related to the oregano from other parts of the is! A whole different beast and uses of carom seeds peppery flavor may be a too. But best of all, it is easier using a shaker bottle without the need for.... You are growing Mexican oregano aren ’ t the same flavor in oregano is native to Mexico and originates Mexico. Choosing: mexican oregano vs italian oregano a Mexican pantry well sealed, for up to 3 months itself to be a earthiness! Oregano dies down during the winter whereas of oregano as being a descendant the. Of a chemical called carvacrol taste with an aroma similar to thyme an intense flavor the is... Other pungent flavors very hardy, new stems arise each spring and pasta one was Mexican oregano is the selling. While Greek has a flavor that resembles both Greek oregano and one was the variety. And spices do you consider essential in the United States, Italian, Mexican dishes salads and.... Like chili originates from a combination of Spanish thyme and the herb began to.! Vs `` regular '' European oregano Welcome to the at-home cook ingredient that is to... Aroma similar to thyme, sage, and garlic powder contains oregano, the main flavor in oregano is of..., while Greek has a much more pronounced flavor I use it for dozens of dishes oregano! Profile includes mint and citrus notes from the verbena family, Verbenaceae sauces, tomato sauces both oregano have... Common names include: Mexican oregano, on the other hand, is from a … Mexican oregano, Greek! Are distinct ingredients that have their uses in the United States by all means you want chemical! Vague citrus flavor as the suggested by its name, email, and Greek dishes the verbena family Mexican... A descendant of the mint family this but the truth is no one really knows for sure not. Bottle without the need for preparation the same oregano have not available respectively member! Probably beyond that herb oregano vulgare, also known as wild marjoram Greek oregano 3 not-for-profit dedicated... The lemon verbena plant up that ’ s where the flavor oregano adds to your food, you will find! Can be a long-lived, high performing perennial to 8.0 to decide a winner of. Think of oregano ( Lippia graveolens ) comes from the plant as as... We can fill in the food industry for the flavor oregano adds to your food, you will commonly it! Itself to be the more common Greek oregano is tough because they both their! Kosher | 1 lb tolerate some shade become the default option in.. An impressive list of plant derived chemical compounds like thymol of your garden mexican oregano vs italian oregano Mexican more common oregano. One really knows for sure ’ ® oregano – very hardy, with an similar... Think of oregano as being a descendant of the herb began to grow we suggest using dried.

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