GREEK OREGANO - Origanum vulgare hirtum

Greek Oregano is a semi-hardy perennial member of the Lamiaceae family. It has a super intense flavor that might numb the end of your tongue, and little flowers that are white. It’s a sub species of Wild Marjoram - which has zero flavor and pink flowers. So when you’re looking for Greek Oregano, be sure to rub a leaf to get that intense fragrance. If it’s not there, choose a different plant!

Greek Oregano doesn’t like wet feet and prefers 6 hours of sun. It needs about 1 inch of water per week. Begin harvesting as soon as the first flowers appear - which is usually in May. Keep snipping the tops in order to encourage continued production. Only the newer leaves are tender and the most flavorful.

TIME TO EAT

Greek Oregano has a pretty strong flavor, but doesn’t like to be cooked for a long time. So harvest the leaves right before you’re going to use them. If you’re not using them immediately, after you wash and dry them wrap them in a dry paper towel and place them in the refrigerator. This will buy you a few hours.

You can use Greek Oregano fresh, or you can dry the leaves and store for later. If using dried Greek Oregano, remember that about 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs equals about 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.

And try this for a super fast and easy Mediterranean appetizer: Feta cheese (cubed into bite-sized pieces); fresh Greek Oregano, finely minced; and extra virgin olive oil. Place cubed Feta cheese on a plate. Sprinkle Greek Oregano over the Feta and then drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper, if desired. Serve with Kalamata olives and crusty bread. Enjoy!

BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW

The leaves of Greek Oregano are slightly fuzzy for a really good reason. The little hairs on the plant’s leaves and stems provide shade for the plant and slow down water loss. This helps Greek Oregano survive in some really hot and dry weather - remember, it’s a Mediterranean plant!

I hope this gets you thinking about planting an herb garden. Here on the blog each week we’ll take a look at a different herb, and before you know it you’ll be ready to take on your own garden! If you’d like some help with design and planning, click the button below to reach out.