Oregano (Origanum spp) It has a warm and aromatic flavor and aroma and a slightly bitter taste. It belongs to the family of the Mint Family with pink or lavender flower features.

It is a shrub plant with opposite leaves oval and the square stem that it shares with other mints. The stem can be woody. It usually reaches between 20 and 25 cm high.

Although oregano and improvenament are different plants, they are often linguistically confused. (Even Linneo confused them.) The flavors are similar, but not identical and their fragrance is quite different.

Names Wild improvement, Rigani, best bastard, Greek oregano

History and folklore

The name of Oregano comes from the Greek and means «joy of the mountains.» It grows wild on the slopes of Greece and the shepherds used to encourage their sheep to eat it to improve the taste of the flesh.

It has been cultivated in the Mediterranean for centuries and popularized in the United States after World War II.

The ancient Greeks believed that oregano was an antidote useful against poison and used it in poultice to treat irritations and skin infections. If the oregano grew in a grave, it was a sign that the deceased was happy in the hereafter. Both in ancient Greece and in Rome, in the weddings couples with oregano crowns were crowned to ensure their future happiness.

Folklore/symbolism of the planning oregano. in love spells and to attract romantic energiesTable 1: folklore and symbolism of oregano

Traditional Chinese healers have also used oregano during generations to treat various ailments.

In Shakespeare times, oregano was used for almost everything. The ladies took him in the back to hide the bad smells. It was also used in potion to allow them to see their future husband on San Lucas Day.

It has been used for centuries in many places of love potions.

Oregano is supposed to grow near his home protects him from evil strength. He has also taken as amulet with the same purpose.

Varieties

Common oregano, wild improvena, pot improvena (O. Vulgare)

It has a sweeter taste than Italian or Greek and is used more often in English and French cuisine. It is the best selling variety to gardeners, although Greek oregano is more powerful.

Greek oregano (O. Heracleoticum)

He is a very enthusiastic cultivator and must be kept in a pot so that he does not become an invadora. It is excellent for cooking and has a high concentration of volatile oils, so it is good for healing and magic.

Italian oregano (ORIGANUM ONITES)

Softer than Greek oregano, but less invasive, so it is a better option for the garden. Butterflies love the lavender flowers that it supports in summer.

Dulcea, Knotaana Anudada (Oregaum Marjorana)

This plant is very sensitive to frost and should be grown indoors in fresh climates. Its host bearing makes it attractive in hanging baskets and is good in pots. Its flavor is not as strong as that of other varieties.

Magical uses

The oregano is governed by Venus and the element of the air and associated with Aphrodite.

It is used in spells for happiness, tranquility, luck, health, protection and to let a loved one go. It can also be used in spells to deepen existing love.

It is said that it favors psychic dreams when it gets in the head while falling asleep.

MagicolementoEmentoairemento -aneplaCuriCuriodeidaFrodita, mercury, mercury, magical loves of love, purification, protection, associated joy, a ligristal, clear quartz, quartz rosestbas associateslavanda, rosemary, thyme, thyme, thymeTable 2: Magic correspondence of the oregano

Oregano symbolizes joy. Use it in rituals to celebrate cheerful or spells to attract joy to life. It is also an adequate decoration for a grave, so that the deceased finds happiness in his next life.

Oregano crowns can be used to crown the heads of couples who fast by hand to ensure their happiness.

Crop

Cultivate in full sun with well drained soil. Do not let the roots settle in moisture. Oregano does not need fertilizer and its use will weaken its flavor.

Plants can spread by seeds, division or cuttings. Sprinkle the seeds on the ground, and do not cover them, since sunlight stimulates germination. Start inside and transplant when the danger of frost has passed.

You can monthly, trimming the floral stems to keep the plant dense and prevent the seeds from sprouting. Once this happens, the taste will be affected.

The different oregano species can have cross pollination, so if you have more than one species in your garden and pick up and re -plant seeds the following year, you can take a surprise.

Red spiders and aphids may be interested in their oregano.

Harvest and conservation

Start harvesting when the plant has about ten centimeters high. Pinch what you need above a couple of leaves. Harvest just before the flowers are formed to get the best flavor.

The oregano dries well. As a Tomilloel flavor of the oregano increases with drying.

Culinary use

Indispensable in Italian cuisine, oregano is a popular seasoning for tomato dishes and other acidic vegetables. It is also excellent in various meats. It is a natural ally of basil and tomatoes.

Add the oregano almost at the end of cooking. If the oregano cooks too much time, it becomes bitter.

Mexican oregano Lippia spp It has a taste similar to that of the oregano and is popular in Central America and the southern US. It is used to season the Chile with meat.

It combines well with chiles, paprika, ajebolla and cumin to achieve the characteristic flavor of the southwest of Chile powder. The Mexican oregano is more related to the verbena than with the oregano.

Domestic use

Plants, cut in flower, produce a reddish brown dye.

The leaves can rub on the wood as a kind of polishing. Leave a pleasant aroma.