Thyme contains good amounts of vitamins A, C, and B-complex, as well as minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium. Finally, bees are known tlove Thyme’s productive tiny flowers and will produce a uniquely savory honey from their nectar. Apart from its roles in the kitchen and garden, Thyme is also grown for its essential oil, used commercially in everything from soaps, cosmetics, and toothpaste, to gum, candy, and ice cream. There are other cooking varieties that offer unique flavor profiles, such as Lemon Thyme with its distinct citrusy smell and taste, and there are also ornamental varieties that are used as a natural insect repellent, grown as ground cover or lawn substitute, or planted between rocks and paths. There are many unique varieties of Thyme, but the classic culinary cultivar is Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as English, Garden, or Common Thyme. Thyme is a member of the Lamiaceae, or mint family, and is botanically classified in the genus Thymus. Thyme is highly aromatic, offering an earthy scent with hints of mint and clove, and it has a layered savory, herbal flavor with minty, grassy, and floral notes. The round to oval, gray-green leaves are very small, often only a few millimeters in diameter, and they grow opposite at intervals along the stems.

When the plant is mature, tiny purple, pink or white flowers blossom in bunches amongst the leaves along the thin, branched, and woody stems. The specific growth habit can differ depending on the variety, as some sprout upright flower stalks while others form mats or cascade. Thyme is a low-growing herb that reaches 15 to 30 centimeters tall and spreads up to 45 centimeters wide.

Thyme recipes