All thymes (and there are over 350 species in the genus Thymus) are edible and this includes varieties usually thought of as ornamental or medicinal. However, some are more popular in cooking than others.
What type of thyme is used for cooking?
Though there are something like 300 varieties of this herb, the most common types used in cooking are Thymus vulgaris (common thyme), Thymus citriodorus (citrus thyme, Thymus herba-barona (caraway thyme) and Thymus serpillum (wild thyme) – which is often found in United States.
What is the difference between thyme and wild thyme?
Wild Thyme is a perennial, more thickset than the Garden Thyme, though subject to many varieties, according to the surroundings in which it grows.
Is Wild Thyme safe to eat?
They can be eaten cooked or raw, they are delicious when fresh. Wild thyme leaves, just like common thyme, are perfect for seasoning barbecues, gravy, fish and even infusions. Wild thyme flowers are also used for their fragrance, although not as intense as in leaves.
Can you eat the whole thyme plant?
Fresh thyme can be added to a recipe whole with the stem, or the leaves can be removed from the stem and then sprinkled into a dish. If a recipe calls for a “sprig” of thyme, the leaves and stem should be kept intact.
Can you cook with garden thyme?
Thyme (fresh and dried) pairs well with meats of all kinds, chicken, stews, soups, eggs, pastas, vegetables and beans. Fresh thyme is nice with fish and seafood. Think of thyme when you are making lasagna, sautéing or roasting vegetables, roasting chicken, pork, lamb, or beef, and making any sort of potato dish.
What’s the difference between thyme and English thyme?
The main differences between German thyme and English thyme is the appearance of their foliage and their tolerance of the cold. English thyme spreads outwards while German thyme grows upright. German thyme is also hardier than English thyme.
How do you identify thyme?
Physical Characteristics for Wild Thyme. As a member of the Mint family they have square stems, the flower stems are purple and are hairy on two sides. The small, deep green leaves grow in pairs along the stems, they are oval shaped and very fragrant.
What type of thyme is most common?
Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.)
As you might guess, common thyme is the most widely used culinary thyme. Common thyme grows well in most climates, ranging from zones 3 to 8.
What kind of thyme is best for tea?
Pennsylvania Dutch Tea Thyme
As its name suggests, Pennsylvania Dutch Tea is perfect (fresh or dried) for tea-brewing, and can be substituted for any recipe calling for English thyme. It has dark, oval leaves, pink flowers, and grows to about 1′ tall.
Is it OK to eat flowering thyme?
Cooking. Thyme flowers are edible and have a similar flavor to thyme leaves. What is this? The longer you leave the flowers on your plants the stronger they will taste so it’s best to pick them when they’re about three weeks old for the best flavor.
Can you still use thyme after it flowers?
Thyme’s tiny flowers are pretty and white. Though you can pinch the flowers off to allow the plant to produce more leaves, the flavor of thyme really isn’t compromised by letting the plant bloom.
Can you use thyme if its flowered?
And yes, Julie, do eat the thyme flowers: they are perfectly edible and very pretty.
Can you eat fresh thyme raw?
Q Hi Nigel, Can you enlighten me as to whether it is OK to eat raw thyme leaves, eg sprinkled on a salad? A Hello Lesley, If the leaves are very young then, yes, you could put them into a very rustic salad. They would be particularly appropriate with feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes or a potato salad.
What parts of the thyme plant are edible?
The leaves of this perennial evergreen are highly aromatic and have a woodsy flavor that pairs well with meat, fish and many other common herbs. Those leaves are the part of the plant you want to eat, though the stems have some culinary value too.
Is dried thyme the same as thyme leaves?
Unlike many herbs, dried thyme retains much of the flavor of fresh and is a suitable substitution. As a general rule, 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves = 1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme.
What can I do with fresh thyme from my garden?
Thyme can be used fresh or dried, and works well in soups, roasted vegetables, pasta, sauces, pizzas and more! We love garnishing a recipe with a few sprigs of thyme: it looks lovely and adds a fresh herbaceous flavor.
Do you eat thyme stems?
The stems of thyme are edible but are typically too woody to enjoy. The leaves are really what you are after, but leaving the leaves attached to the stem saves prep time. You can just remove and discard the stem and any attached leaves after cooking.
How do I prepare fresh thyme?
Wash, then either use the whole sprig or remove the leaves and discard the stalk. To strip the leaves from the stems, hold a stalk at the top and then firmly run the thumb and forefinger of your other hand along the stalk from top to bottom – the leaves should break off as you go.
Can you eat lawn thyme?
A lawn you can eat! Like most Thymes, the leaves are edible whilst the flowers attract butterflies.
Is winter thyme edible?
German Winter: German winter thyme offers an excellent, classic culinary thyme flavor. It has small green leaves but isn’t as hardy as some other types of thyme. Transparent Yellow: This variety of thyme has chartreuse foliage and is excellent for both culinary and ornamental uses.