#Thyme flower full

The compounds in the oil give the plant antibacterial, fungicidal, and antiseptic qualities that translate well into natural applications for deodorant, mouthwash, soaps and toothpastes. The flowering tops of thyme are harvested for the essential oils they contain. In ancient Rome, thyme was used to treat melancholy and during Medieval times was thought to instill vigor and courage in the user. The name “thyme” in its Greek form, meant ‘to fumigate,’ as the herb was often burned as an insect and ‘other venomous creature’ repellent. Throughout history, thyme has been used by different cultures for things unrelated to food. Flowering thyme can be dried and kept in an airtight container for up to six months.

Gently rinse under cool water before use. To store Flowering thyme, keep sprigs wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator for up to a week. The flowers are often used to enhance herbed butters or spreads.

Pinch off flowers and leaves to use as a flavorful garnish on salads, soups, or quiches. The tiny flowers impart the same flavor as the leaves in any dish and also add a touch of color. Thyme is known to cooks as one of the principal ingredients in herbs de Provence, and is also one of the main ingredients in an herb sachet for soups, stocks, and sauces, known as a “bouquet garni.” Flowering thyme can be used not only for these applications, but also for others that require use of the fresh herb. Overall, ingesting thyme is believed to be ideal for maintaining good health. The herb also contains tannins, bitter compounds, and organic acids, which together with thymol and carvacrol offer digestive benefits, as well as antibiotic, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The mature tops of Flowering thyme contain an essential oil consisting primarily of natural compounds thymol and carvacrol, which give the leaves and blossoms of Flowering thyme their aroma and taste.

It is said that honey from the nectar of Flowering thyme can rival that of lavender honey.įlowering thyme contains significant amounts of vitamins A and B-complex, as well as minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium. Thyme doesn’t lose its aroma and flavor once it flowers, as some herbs tend to do.

#Thyme flower full

The name ‘Flowering thyme’ is used to describe the plant in full bom, when it is at its most aromatic the flavor of the leaves heightened by the presence of the flowers. Botanically known as Thymus vulgaris, thyme is in the mint family. Thyme is a widely used culinary and aromatic herb, that is also grown for its ornamental and edible purple flowers. The tiny, purple blooms of Flowering thyme offer a balsamic scent and citrusy flavor with hints of mint.įlowering thyme is available in the early spring and late summer months. They are often purple, but can be pink or white depending on the variety. The flowers bloom along the stem, nestled in among the leaves. The leaves are very small, only measuring a few millimeters, and grow in clustered pairs at intervals along the stems. The branched and woody stems grow close together, the tops of the stems being more tender than the base. Thyme grows like a small shrub, growing about eight inches in height. Flowering thyme is a mature thyme plant, that has reached the flowering stage.