![]() ![]() As the name implies, lemon thyme has a bit of a citrus tang, but is milder than most other thyme. Lemon thyme - the leaves are tiny and heart shaped, ringed with a splash of yellow. ![]() Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean area, Thymus vulgaris is a perennial shrub belonging to the Labiatae, or mint, family.įor the broadest culinary use, French thyme (also called summer thyme) and English thyme are the two to look for at your local market, but there are many other variants. During the Middle Ages, European ladies embroidered a sprig of thyme on tunics for their knights, again as a token of courage. The Scottish highlanders of old would prepare a tea of wild thyme for the same purpose, as well as for warding off nightmares. The Romans also associated thyme with courage and vigor, bathing in waters scented with thyme to prepare themselves for battle. Even the origins of the word thyme are Greek: from the word thymon meaning “courage.” ![]() Thyme was widely used: medically, in massage and bath oils, as incense in the temples and as an aphrodisiac. To the ancient Greeks, thyme came to denote elegance, and the phrase “to smell of thyme” became an expression of stylish praise. The hills of Greece are covered with wild thyme, and thyme honey from the tiny pink and lavender blossoms is plentiful. Because it’s equally at home in a caramel sauce served over roasted fruits as it is in baked macaroni and cheese, thyme has a prominent place in my herb garden and spice cabinet. ![]()
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