Culinary Thyme Seeds
Thyme is one of the best known and most widely used culinary Herbs.
Thyme, a member of the mint family, is quite easy to grow and is commonly found as a decorative as well as a functional plant in many home gardens.
Thyme is a good source of Iron and can be used to flavor salads, soups, sauces, vegetables, stews, meats, desserts, jellies, lamb, tomatoes and eggs.
Thyme has a slow release flavor so it is usually added early in the cooking process.
Thyme is cultivated for its strong flavor which is due to its content of the essential oil, thymol. Thymol is an antiseptic and is the main ingredient in Listerine.
There are over 100 varieties of
Thyme and it is often difficult to differentiate between them. All varieties of Thyme are highly attractive to bees and the honey from bees that feed on the
Thyme flower is considered a gourmet delight. Unlike bees, insects are repelled by
Thyme.
Make a cup of
Thyme tea, put it in a plant mister, and spray around doorways and windows in summer to repel insects.
Throughout history,
Thyme has found many uses including:
- Egyptian embalming as assurance of passage to the next life, a source of courage, purification, as a sleep aid and to ward of nightmares, as an antibiotic and as a treatment for depression.
- Fairies are said to love Thyme and, some believe, a bed of Thyme will attract fairies and make them feel at home in your garden.
Freezing
Thyme is a good way for it to retain its flavor.
Thyme retains its flavor on drying better than many other herbs. Freeze clean, dry branches and store in an airtight container for later use.
Thyme can also be dried by hanging bunches in a shaded, well ventilated space. Once dry, strip the leaves off of the branches and store out of direct light in an airtight container.
Also available:
Basil Seeds
Oregano Seeds
Culinary Herb and Spice Blends
