Thyme is an important spice of European cuisines, especially in Southern Europe.  In French cuisine, it is tied up into bundles together with other fresh herbs making it an essential element in bouquet garni.

Thyme has been used since antiquity.  The botanical name is derived from the ancient Greek "thymos".

Thyme is known to reduce bacteria growth; reduce mucous in the lungs; eliminate hookworms in the intestines; and strengthen the nervous system.

Thyme is a small leafed herb. It has a strong, somewhat minty flavor and is available in fresh or dried form.  It is used to season poultry, lamb, seafood and vegetables.

Dried thyme can be stored for up to a year in a cool dry location out of the direct light. Dried thyme should be crushed in the palm of your hand to release its flavor before using.

To chop fresh thyme, strip leaves from the stems and gather leaves into a tight, dense bunch. Using a sharp knife, cut across the gathered leaves to chop coarsely. To mince, take coarsely chopped leaves, with a rocking motion start moving a sharp knife blade back and forth across the leaves until they have been cut to the desired fineness. 

This herb grows wild on the rocky slopes near the Mediterranean Sea.  With its highly aromatic leaves, Thyme is frequently used fresh or dried as a seasoning in a variety of culinary applications including soups, stews, sauces, meat and fish dishes. Garden (or common) thyme is a woody-based perennial which is primarily grown as a culinary herb in herb gardens.

Thyme grows as a wiry shrub with evergreen leaves and small lavender flowers that are very attractive to bees. Whorls of tiny, tubular flowers appear on the stem ends in late spring to early summer.

Ancient Greeks and Romans burned thyme as sweet incense, and Roman soldiers bathed in thyme water to gain energy. Though apparently not in general use as a culinary herb among these ancients, it was employed by the Romans to give an aromatic flavor to cheese (and also to liqueurs).

Medicinally, Thyme oil has antiseptic properties and is still used as an expectorant. The Thyme flowers and leaves have been used for flu, cough, and other breathing problems such as bronchospasm and bronchitis.

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