Mexican oregano has a much stronger flavor than the common Italian and Greek oreganos found on grocery store shelves. Mexican oregano's flavor has quickly gained popularity with chefs in recent years for its strong flavor and the subtle sweetness that is unique to this oregano from south of the border.

Mexican oregano's flavor is still so similar to traditional oregano that it is a good substitute for the more common Mediterranean oreganos when it is added at half the amount called for. Add it to Mexican and southwest recipes calling for "Mexican oregano" as called for to add a potent oregano flavor.

This strong flavored oregano is almost impossible to find in most parts of the U.S. and we feel luck to have a source through which to provide you with it.

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• Crush before addition to foods to release Mexican oregano's flavor's and aroma's.
• Try lightly toasting before crushing.

 

Mexican oregano, Lippia graveolens, is an aromatic shrub closely related to the verbenas. This woody perennial grows to 4-6 feet tall and is native to Central America, parts of South America and the Southwest United States. Mexican oregano grows well in warm, sunny conditions in fertile well draining soil. It can be grown by seeds, which are even harder to find than the dried herb, or from softwood cuttings.

Our dried Mexican oregano usually contains some viable seeds, but they are very small, hard to get started, and susceptible to dampening off. Once established they grow well in a pot, but will need to be brought indoors at the first hints of cold weather where the plant requires additional light to survive the winter. Mexican oregano can be grown outdoors year round in USDA zones 10 and 11.

In Mexico this oregano is used to flavor pork, fish, beans, stews, soups, tacos, salsas, tomato based sauces and as an ingredient in seasoning blends. It is even used to flavor a cheese cake and make a herbal tea called té de pais in some rural areas. Mexican oregano's flavor is a sharp classic oregano with citrus notes and a hint of sweetness. The bite of the volatile oils in this aromatic herb is so strong that a pinch chewed in the mouth causes a mild numbness to the tongue.