The botanical term of the oregano herb is Origanum Vulgare. In Greek, it means joy of the mountains. The oregano can grow about 2 ft tall and you can easily smell the strong and pungent aroma. It is not only used for culinary purposes but it is also great for treating certain illnesses. When the herb blooms, you will see pink and purple flowers which are also edible. The oregano herb can make a lot of dishes very flavorful.
You can use the herb fresh and dried, depending on your preferences. Very few herbs can maintain strength of flavor especially when already dried and oregano is one of these precious herbs. Some perfumes even make use of oregano. Some people also call it pizza herb. People from different parts of the world have already tried using oregano herb for different purposes. In the US, the popularity of oregano increased after the Second World War since the soldiers' favorite was pizza.
Herb
From 1948 to 1956, the sales of oregano increased significantly in the US because of pizza mania. Today, a lot o people are now using oregano thus, increasing its popularity even more. If you have garden space, it is a good idea to plant oregano or you can also grow oregano herb in containers. Instead of buying the herb from commercial stores and groceries, you will simply pick them in your very own garden.
When the herb is frozen properly, you can stock it for about a week. The stem of the herb can be used but pick the ones that are rich green in color. The stems can be refrigerated for 3 days inside a plastic. The oregano life of the herb can also be extended for a week if you wrap the stem inside a damp paper towel and make sure that some air is able to enter the plastic. Fill the glass with water and place the stems of oregano with the leaves; you can also do this with the flowers and you are sure to preserve it.
Why not try freezing the herb? Get the sprigs of the oregano herb, wash it and dry thoroughly. Place the whole leaves inside a plastic without air. Put the bag inside the freezer and make sure that it is not crushed. You can use it readily without thawing. Drying the herb is also easy and you can do it by tying the bunch in a dark and cool place.
The oregano herb will dry easily with good ventilation. When the herb is completely dry, you can now seal it inside a bag and store away from light. The dried herb can be used for six months. If you want, you can also dry marjoram and thyme together with oregano. These herbs can work wonders in your dishes.
These are the facts that you have to know about oregano. It is really easy to grow this flavorful and aromatic herb. Determine the growth requirements and start planting the oregano herb in your yard or in a container.
Oregano Herb - The Facts
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