The benefits of thyme: everything you need to know

The History of Thyme

Native to the Mediterranean basin, "thymus vulgaris" grows wild in the hills as it loves the sun and is not afraid of drought. The origin of its name is debated: it could come from "thyo" which means "I perfume," from "thymo" which means "smoke," because it was burned like incense, or from "thumus" which means "courage." Its very distinct fragrance gave it a prime place in embalming the dead in Egypt as well as in the worship of the Greek Gods, where it was burned on altars. In the Middle Ages, it was used to purify homes, placed under pillows to promote sleep, and even infused into concoctions for love potions... Since then, it has spread throughout the Mediterranean basin and grows as well in Provence (where it is nicknamed "farigoule") as in the Middle East and Eastern European countries.

There are many varieties of thyme, but in addition to common thyme, the most well-known are lemon thyme, with its citrus scent, and wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), reminiscent of lavender. Thyme is a plant whose essential oil composition varies depending on the soil where it grows: the quantities of thymol, linalool, carvacrol, and thujanol vary from one plant to another and explain the great differences in fragrance from one thyme plant to another... as well as from one year to another. These terms appear on bottles of thyme essential oil to guarantee the specific content of an oil.

In ancient times, thyme was called a "panacea," just like garlic: it was used for many different ailments. It was notably used to treat skin conditions and soothe delicate skin.

How to find good quality thyme?

Its small white, purple, or pink flowers have a lighter scent than its leaves. Fresh, it is less pungent, more herbaceous. Dried, it becomes more intense, and sometimes slightly camphorated. While some are lucky enough to have a thyme plant in their garden, growing it is not always easy! To always have high-quality thyme on hand, thyme-infused oil is a very practical and very fragrant solution... At A l'Olivier, we offer a delicate lemon thyme infused oil as well as an garlic and thyme oil, which have multiple uses.

Thyme can be used in stewed dishes: an essential component of a bouquet garni, it is found in pots where beef bourguignon or osso buco simmer. Once the sauce is reduced, adding an extra touch of flavor with a drizzle of garlic and thyme oil off the heat is a small gesture that can make all the difference.

Thyme is often associated with bay leaf, in tomato sauces for example: a dash of thyme and garlic infused oil in a tomato salad, what a great idea! You can also crumble thyme like oregano on a pizza or pissaladière, and enhance it with a generous drizzle of lemon thyme oil when serving. As for goat and sheep cheeses, it's a true love match with this aromatic plant: as the animals sometimes graze on it in the hills, their milk may have naturally acquired thyme aromas, which a dash of flavored olive oil will easily bring out. For marinades for chicken or lamb, on bruschettas or a summer vegetable tian, it's up to you to choose your favorite, between thyme and garlic oil and lemon thyme oil!