Oregano and Marjoram:
An Herb Society of America Guide to the Genus Origanum
Culinary Uses
Even the most inexperienced cooks know that oregano is one of the key ingredients in pizza and pasta sauce, and sweet marjoram is a signature poultry-stuffing herb. "The heart and soul of Mediterranean cuisine" (7), Origanum plants are essential components in Italian, Greek and French cooking. Although oregano and sweet marjoram are staples for many cooks, the culinary use of Origanum isn't limited to a few foods or species of plants. Origanum plants are very versatile (51) and there are many different culinary species with an array of distinct flavors and uses.
- Origanum majorana (sweet marjoram)
- Origanum vulgare subspecies and cultivars (oregano)
- Origanum xmajoricum (Italian oregano, hardy sweet marjoram)
- Origanum onites (pot marjoram, rhigani/rigani, Turkish oregano)
- Origanum dictamnus (dittany of Crete, hop marjoram)
- Origanum syriacum (za'atar, Syrian oregano, Lebanese oregano, Bible hyssop)
- Lesser-known culinary species
Next topic: Recipes