Oregano is a well loved cooking herb.

 

Oregano is a well loved cooking herb.
Oregano an aromatic herb of the mint family, having leaves used as seasoning in cooking. It is native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. Oregano is a perennial herb. Closely related to the herb marjoram, oregano is also known as wild marjoram. Oregano is an important culinary herb, used for the flavor of its leaves, which can be more flavorful when dried than fresh. It has an aromatic, warm and slightly bitter taste.
Common oregano is botanically known as Origanum vulgare, Greek for "joy of the mountains." It can be found growing wild on mountainsides of Greece and other Mediterranean countries where it is an herb of choice. Also known as wild marjoram, the oregano plant is a perennial which grows up to two feet tall and bears tiny leaves. There are a number of different varieties of oregano. The strongest is considered to be Mexican oregano.
Fresh oregano is always the first choice when possible. Strip leaves from the stem and discard the stem. When using oregano in a bouquet garni, do not strip leaves from the sprigs. Just tie it up with the rest of the herbs.
When using dried oregano, crush it in the palm of your hand before adding to the food. This helps release its essential oils.