Wikipedia

Thyme

This article is about leaves and oils of the thyme plant. For the genus of thyme plants, seeThymus (plant).For the active ingredient in thyme oil, seeThymol.For other uses, seeThyme (disambiguation).

Thyme(/taɪm/) is aculinary herbconsisting of the dried aerial parts of some members of the genusThymusofflowering plantsin the mint familyLamiaceae.Thymes are native toEurasiaand north Africa. Thymes have culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. The species most commonly cultivated and used for culinary purposes isThymus vulgaris,native to Southeast Europe.

Thyme
A bundle of thyme
Food energy
(per 100gserving)
101kcal(423kJ)
Nutritional value
(per 100gserving)
Protein6g
Fat1.7g
Carbohydrate24g

History

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Flowering thyme

Wild thymegrows in theLevant,where it might have been first cultivated.Ancient Egyptiansused common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) forembalming.[1]Theancient Greeksused it in their baths and burnt it asincensein their temples, believing it was a source ofcourage.

The spread of thyme throughout Europe was thought to be due to theRomans,as they used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs".[2]In the EuropeanMiddle Ages,the herb was placed beneath pillows to aid sleep and ward off nightmares.[3]In this period, women also often gaveknightsand warriors gifts that included thyme leaves, as it was believed to bring courage to the bearer. Thyme was also used as incense and placed oncoffinsduringfunerals,as it was supposed to assure passage into the next life.[4]

The name of the genus of fishThymallus,first given to thegrayling(T. thymallus,described in the1758 edition ofSystema Naturaeby Swedish zoologistCarl Linnaeus), originates from the faint smell of thyme that emanates from the flesh.[5]

Cultivation

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Thyme is best cultivated in a hot, sunny location with well-drained soil. It is generally planted in the spring, and thereafter grows as aperennial.It can be propagated by seed, cuttings, or dividing rooted sections of the plant. It tolerates drought well.[6]It can be pruned after flowering to keep from getting woody.[7]

Culinary use

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Seombaengnihyang-cha(Ulleungdo thymetea)

In someLevantinecountries, the condimentza'atar(Arabicfor both thyme andmarjoram) contains many of the essential oils found in thyme.[8]Thyme is a common component of thebouquet garni,and ofherbes de Provence.[9]

Thyme is sold both fresh and dried. While summer-seasonal, fresh greenhouse thyme is often available year-round. The fresh form is more flavourful but also less convenient; storage life is rarely more than a week. However, the fresh form can last many months if carefully frozen,[10]and thyme retains its flavour on drying better than many other herbs.[11]

Fresh thyme is commonly sold in bunches of sprigs. A sprig is a single stem snipped from the plant.[12]It is composed of a woody stem with paired leaf or flower clusters ( "leaves" ) spaced15 to 25 millimetres (1⁄2to 1 inch) apart. A recipe may measure thyme by the bunch (or fraction thereof), or by the sprig, or by the tablespoon or teaspoon. Dried thyme is widely used in Armenia intisanes.[13]

Depending on how it is used in a dish, the whole sprig may be used, or the leaves removed and the stems discarded. Usually, when a recipe mentions a bunch or sprig, it means the whole form; when it mentions spoons, it means the leaves. It is perfectly acceptable to substitute dried for whole thyme. Leaves may be removed from stems either by scraping with the back of a knife, or by pulling through the fingers or tines of a fork.

In Moroccan tradition, dried figs[14]are elevated with the infusion of minty leaves. After softening in a couscous pot, the figs are rested with additional minty leaves before being sprinkled with thyme for a delightful flavor enhancement and preservation in sealed containers.

Chemical and antimicrobial properties

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Thymolis the principal aromatic component of thyme.

The chemical composition ofThymus(thyme) includes a variety of essential oils, flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, and other compounds. The essential oils found in thyme include thymol, which is a major component responsible for the plant's antiseptic properties, and carvacrol, another primary component with similar functions. Other essential oils present are p-cymene, γ-terpinene, linalool, and 1,8-cineole.Gas chromatographic analysisreveals that the most abundantvolatilecomponent of thyme leaves isthymol,at 8.55mg/g. Other components arecarvacrol,linalool,α-terpineol,and 1,8-cineole.[15]

Some of these compounds have beneficial properties. In particular, thymol has been historically used as anantibioticandantiseptic,especially in traditional medicine.[16]Oil of thyme, theessential oilof common thyme, contains 20–54% thymol.[17]Thymol is an active ingredient in various commercially producedmouthwashes,such asListerine.[18]

Flavonoids in thyme include luteolin-7-O-glucoside,[19]a glycoside known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as apigenin, quercetin, and kaempferol. Phenolic acids such as rosmarinic acid,[19]which is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, along with caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, are also present in thyme.

Triterpenes, such as oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, are part of thyme's composition, contributing to its overall health benefits. Additionally, thyme contains tannins, which contribute to its astringent properties, as well as saponins and other minor compounds.

Important species and cultivars

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For a longer list of species, seeThymus (plant).
Variegated lemon thyme
  • Thymus citriodorus– various lemon thymes, orange thymes, lime thyme[citation needed]
  • Thymus herba-barona(caraway thyme) is used both as a culinary herb and a ground cover, and has a very strongcarawayscent due to the chemicalcarvone.[20][21]
  • Thymus praecox(mother of thyme, wild thyme), is cultivated as an ornamental, but is inIcelandalso gathered as a wild herb for cooking, and drunk as a warminfusion.
  • Thymus pseudolanuginosus(woolly thyme) is not a culinary herb, but is grown as a ground cover.
  • Thymus serpyllum(wild thyme, creeping thyme) is an importantnectar sourceplant forhoneybees.All thyme species are nectar sources, but wild thyme covers large areas of droughty, rocky soils in southern Europe (bothGreeceand Malta are especially famous for wild thyme honey) and North Africa, as well as in similar landscapes in theBerkshireandCatskill Mountainsof the northeastern US. The lowest growing of the widely used thyme is good for walkways. It is also an important caterpillar food plant for large and common blue butterflies.[22]
  • Thymus vulgaris(common thyme, English thyme, summer thyme, winter thyme, French thyme,[23]or garden thyme)[24]is a commonly usedculinary herb.It also has medicinal uses. Common thyme is aMediterraneanperennial which is best suited to well-drained soils and full sun.

References

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  1. ^"Medical News Today - What are the benefits of thyme?".MedicalNewsToday.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-07-10.Retrieved2024-07-10.
  2. ^Grieve, Mrs. Maud."Thyme. A Modern Herbal".botanical.com(Hypertext version of the 1931 ed.).Archivedfrom the original on February 23, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 9,2008.
  3. ^Huxley, A., ed. (1992).New RHS Dictionary of Gardening.Macmillan.
  4. ^"Thyme (thymus)".englishplants.co.uk.The English Cottage Garden Nursery.Archivedfrom the original on 2006-09-27.
  5. ^Ingram, A.; Ibbotson, A.; Gallagher, M."The Ecology and Management of the European GraylingThymallus thymallus(Linnaeus) "(PDF).East Stoke, Wareham, U.K.: Institute of Freshwater Ecology. p. 3. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-02-28.Retrieved2014-02-27.
  6. ^"Herb File. Global Garden".global-garden.com.au.Archivedfrom the original on 2007-10-12.
  7. ^Peter, K.V. (2012).Handbook of herbs and spices Volume 2.
  8. ^"Explaining Zaatar!".Dima Al Sharif.2015-12-08.Retrieved2022-03-23.
  9. ^Walker, Paul (2 September 2021)."What Is a Bouquet Garni? Easy Homemade Bouquet Garni Recipe, Plus Tips for Cooking With Bouquet Garni - 2022 - MasterClass".Masterclass.Retrieved23 March2022.
  10. ^"Food Storage - How Long Can You Keep Thyme".Archivedfrom the original on 2015-08-09.Retrieved2015-08-18.
  11. ^"7 Herbs That Taste Good When Dried".The Spruce.Retrieved2022-03-23.
  12. ^"Thyme".Almanac.com.Retrieved2022-03-23.
  13. ^"TeaWay Armenian Tea History".TeaWay.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-07-10.Retrieved2024-07-10.
  14. ^Noramine, Khalil (September 16, 2023).Medicinal and Edible Plants of Morocco.Independently published. pp. 31–32.ISBN979-8860829343.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  15. ^Lee, Seung-Joo; Umano, Katumi; Shibamoto, Takayuki; Lee, Kwang-Geun (2005). "Identification of Volatile Components in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and Thyme Leaves (Thymus vulgaris L.) and Their Antioxidant Properties".Food Chemistry.91:131–137.doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.05.056.
  16. ^"The potential benefits of polyphenols for corneal diseases".Retrieved2024-07-10.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^Thymus Vulgaris. PDR for Herbal Medicine.Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company. p. 1184.
  18. ^"LISTERINE® Ingredients: What's in Your Mouthwash?".LISTERINE®.Retrieved2024-07-10.
  19. ^abKhokhlova, Kateryna; Vyshnevska, Liliia; Zdoryk, Oleksandr; Filatova, Olga (2021-08-31)."Application of approach for development of hptlc identification and quantification methods for determination of phenolic compounds and terpenoids of several Thymus L. species".ScienceRise: Pharmaceutical Science(4(32)): 29–36.doi:10.15587/2519-4852.2021.238806.ISSN2519-4852.
  20. ^Corticchiato, Marc; Tomi, Félix; François Bernardini, Antoine; Casanova, Joseph (1998-12-01)."Composition and infraspecific variability of essential oil from Thymus herba barona Lois".Biochemical Systematics and Ecology.26(8): 915–932.Bibcode:1998BioSE..26..915C.doi:10.1016/S0305-1978(98)00041-6.ISSN0305-1978.
  21. ^"Thymus herba-barona - Plant Finder".www.missouribotanicalgarden.org.Retrieved2024-03-02.
  22. ^"Caterpillar food plants.pub"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 2015-09-29.Retrieved2015-09-28.
  23. ^"French Thyme, Thymus vulgaris".Sand Mountain Herbs.Archivedfrom the original on 2014-05-27.Retrieved2014-05-27.
  24. ^"English thyme".Sara's Superb Herbs.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-02-09.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toThyme (Thymus).
  • S. S. Tawfik, M. I. Abbady, Ahmed M. Zahran and A. M. K. Abouelalla. Therapeutic Efficacy Attained with Thyme Essential Oil Supplementation Throughout γ-irradiated Rats. Egypt. J. Rad. Sci. Applic., 19(1): 1–22 (2006).
  • Flora of China:Thymus
  • Flora Europaea:Thymus
  • Rohde, E. S. (1920).A Garden of Herbs.
  • Easter, M. (2009).International Thymus Register and Checklist.
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