I was told this variety is a mix of mint and thyme and is used as a tea. Grow it in full sun and be careful not to overwater it. If you have a tea infuser, it is very convenient to make your cup of tea. The leaves possess both strong aroma and taste. Ethnic/Cultural Info Cuban oregano is often found in the local cuisines in Cuba, India and the Philippines. Meal Plans, Recipes, Shopping Lists, Weekly Challenges and Lessons, Private Facebook Support Group, Cooking Videos and more! Oregano is a versatile herb, used in many dishes and especially tomato-based dishes such as chilli, pizza and spaghetti bolognaise. — Claire C. "The scientifically acclaimed “Mediterranean Diet” is presented at its best here, with the liberal use of olive oil and plenty of vegetable and fish dishes in addition to mezedes (appetizers), meat dishes, desserts, and pretty much every Cretan dish you can think of." Add oregano leaves and allow to steep for five minutes and cool. However, I don’t limit it to only Italian dishes. “Oregano has been studied quite a bit,” said lead investigator Supriya Bavadekar, assistant professor of Pharmacology at Long Island University’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The pointed leaf plant has a very bitter taste, When i cooked with it my meat was bitter. Do you have a distributor in Papua New Guinea? This plant is a native to Southern and Eastern Africa, but cultivates well in many growing regions. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. It is an herb that is perennial in tropical regions but most commonly grown as a container plant elsewhere. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and cover with a lid. However, note that I’m recommending these products because of their quality and that I have good experience using them, not because of the commission to be made. Oregano also works well with other herbs and flavourings, for example garlic, onion, thyme, basil, parsley, and olive oil. Strain before drinking. The tea can be made with fresh or dried oregano. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21382660, Juicing vs Blending: The Guide to Which is Best for Health & Weight Loss, how you can use oregano oil as a natural antibiotic, Best Bidets You Can Get On Amazon For Under $100, [GUIDE] PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR NOVEL CORONAVIRUS COVID-19, 5 Hygiene Best-Practices & Why They Keep You Safe From Diseases Like Coronavirus, FAQ: Store Bought & Homemade Masks For COVID-19 & How To Make Them, Guide to Disinfecting & Safely Receiving Packages, A slice of organic lemon to increase bioavailability (optional), Add the oregano leaves towards the end of the cooking process to prevent it from losing its flavour, Use oregano a little at a time—too much can cause the meal to become bitter, Crush dried oregano leaves in your palm before cooking, to help release the essential oils, Use 1 teaspoon dried oregano for every 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano leaves. Check out Brittany’s other recipes on Mediterranean Living below: Brittany Wood Nickerson is a practicing herbalist, health educator and cook. People in Indonesia use Cuban oregano in the form of a traditional food - especially added to soup with a view to augment breast milk and given to new mothers for about a month after childbirth.. It should be allowed to dry out between waterings. Cuban oregano isn’t actually oregano, or even mint, thyme, or borage. Cuban oregano is a tropical plant, hardy in zones 10 and 11 only. Dried oregano contains a multitude of constituents, including approximately 3% volatile essential oil. Tea can be made from fresh or dried herbs. Reference: Oregano is a perennial plant belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae. Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) is an herb of ambiguous origin and many names.Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, and Indian borage are just a few; some people even call it "Vicks plant," because its camphor and menthol aroma is similar to the cough salve. Natural Cough RemediesHow to Get Rid of a Cough FastOREGANO Tea Recipe Lemon teaGinger Tea I combine cuban oregano, salt, pepper, a bit of olive oil and a bit of sugar or orange juice and put it in a mini-chopper or blender. This earthy, velvety and super flavorful pumpkin and mushroom soup... © 2020 Mediterranean Living. Wordpress theme by Dahz, Customized by Gerry, Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the Island of Crete, Foods of Crete: Traditional Recipes from the Healthiest People in the World, Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette, Mediterranean Culinary Travel Destinations, The Mediterranean Way 10 Week Diet & Lifestyle Program, Baked Halibut with Lemon and Rosemary (Greece), Pumpkin Soup with Sautéed Mushrooms (Italy), 2 Tablespoons fresh oregano or 1 Tablespoon dried. It was once native to South and East Africa. Place the herbs in a mug, jar, or teapot. Drink warm throughout the day to reap its maximum benefits. Large fleshy toothed green leaves. Fill the mug with boiling water. For example, if you have a head cold, hot tea will help break up congestion and expectorate mucus, whereas room-temperature or cool tea on a hot day will help you feel refreshed. Step 2 - Mix Tea. Vigorous growth habit, will quickly grow to a large plant in warm zones. ... Pu-erh tea offers a number of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory-based benefits to help improve overall health and well-being. Those volatile oils also tend to hold up well to drying, so dried-plant teas can be equally aromatic, but they usually have a thicker, richer flavor and a darker color. Hi Karen Lynn, Cuban oregano has a high water content and can easily be blended into a marinade or sauce. Cuban oregano can also be sautéed along with assorted vegetables, or added to soups and stews as an aromatic. Oregano oil can be applied topically for treatment of microbial infections, such as athlete’s foot or other fungal based infections. So I just prepared 10 fresh leaves of oregano, put some hot water for 3-5 seconds and squeeze the leaves and drank it. of fresh oregano or 1 tsp. of dried oregano. Fresh oregano leaves can be used whole to make tea, or cut to release more of the oils into the water. Oregano can be administered in many ways to obtain its beneficial effects. Alternatively, place the leaves in a tea pot, increasing the amount to match the size of the pot. Bavadekar’s team is still running tests on carvacrol, but preliminary reports have revealed that the compound is an extremely potent anticancer agent—eliminating nearly all the prostate cancer cells it was tested against. Dilute the oil (1 drop of oil with 1 drop of a carrier oil) and place one or two diluted drops under your tongue. The Mediterranean Way 10 Week Diet & Lifestyle program teaches you everything you need to know to easily and deliciously get the benefits of the proven healthy Mediterranean diet. Cuban Oregano also known as broadleaf thyme. Try soaking your feet in a basin of water with a few teaspoons of oil, or rubbing the diluted oil (1 drop of oil in a teaspoon of olive or coconut oil) on your nails/skin. It is actually of Middle Eastern Origin, most likely from India, and although it, like most culinary herbs, including Oregano,is a member of the Lamiaceae or Mint family, it is actually more closely related to Coleus than is is Oregano. I had a severe cough, colds and runny nose for 2 days that I felt so heavy and there is a 10-month old baby in the house. Oregano tea can be made by pouring hot water over 1 tsp. https://www.mediterraneanliving.com/recipe-items/oregano-tea A new study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology highlights the cancer fighting effects of one of the main components of oregano called carvacrol. Oregano compliments a variety of meats and vegetables with strong flavours such as those containing zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, aubergine and lamb. Store unwashed Cuban oregano in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week. In this 2005 Miami Herald article chef and cookbook author Maricel Presilla writes that the plant made its way to Latin America during colonial times. Cuban Oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus), commonly known as Mexican mint, Spanish thyme and Indian borage.It is a herbaceous succulent with a scent you may mistake for the herb oregano. It fights parasitic infections and food-borne pathogens. However you will now find it growing in many other tropical areas, whether cultivated fields or in the wild. Read more about the amazing wonders of oregano oil here. It may be used fresh or dried, and has a more concentrated flavour in its dried form. My cough and colds were gone and I feel relief after on hour. This plant has a lot of different names such as: Spanish thyme, Indian mint, Soup mint, French thyme or Indian Borage. Under your tongue to help treat infections or parasites. You can use oregano oil in a number of ways, depending on your health needs: Read more about how you can use oregano oil as a natural antibiotic. She is a certified Wellness Health Coach, Nutritional Consultant and a Detox Specialist. The oil needs to be diluted by 50% or more prior to application and it can be applied twice daily. If not, you can prepare your tea this way: Put pure drinking water in a small pot to boil on stove, turn off heat when boiled. Oregano is known to be a beneficial remedy for many ailments and health conditions: //