Cuban Oregano - LIVE PLANT, Spanish Thyme

Cuban oregano is a hardy, succulent herb. It has a stem similar to that of a succulent with new growth offering more delicate green stems. Cuban oregano leaves are rounded, thick, and velvety and grow in pairs around the stem. The leaves are green and serrated along the edges, though some varieties have a variegated color and more deeply-toothed margins. Cuban oregano has a strong, pungent and musky aroma, with a flavor profile that is similar to traditional Italian oregano with a hint of thyme.

Ethnic/Cultural Info
Cuban oregano is often found in the local cuisines in Cuba, India and the Philippines. In the West Indies, which includes Haiti, Jamaica ,Puerto Rico and smaller islands, Cuban oregano is added to traditional ‘jerk’ seasoning blends, bean dishes and salsas. The succulent herb has been used in Ayurvedic practices for centuries in India and throughout Indonesia, prescribed as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, to induce sweating to relieve a fever and as a diuretic.

Common names

• Cuban Oregano
• Indian Borage
• Mexican Mint
• Mexican Thyme
• Orégano Brujo
• Spanish Thyme

Cuban oregano is a versatile herb that pairs well with a variety of dishes. It can be used in place of other herbs such as oregano or thyme. Try using it to stuff pork, marinate chicken or beef, sauté with vegetables, or add to soups and stews. Store fresh Cuban oregano in the fridge for up to a week.

Cuban Oregano is a sprawling plant with ascending branchlets covered in bristles. Its leaves vary in shape, with compactly pubescent petioles and plump blades. The margins of the leaves are crenate to dentate or complete near the base, and the leaves are appressed and pubescent on both sides.