Sustainable Gardening

 About Thyme!

Food for thought, grow and eat local, a must-have seasoning ingredient in many Trini dishes and a must have in my garden. Thymus vulgaris commonly known as thyme with its origins from the Mediterranean region is an evergreen herb with culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses. Here in T&T, this herb is known as either French thyme, Spanish thyme or small-leaf thyme. It is best cultivated in a hot, sunny location with well-drained soil and tolerates drought well. It can be propagated by seed, cuttings, or dividing rooted sections of the plant. Here in the tropics thyme grows year-round. 

The taste of this leaf is pleasantly aromatic and delightfully refreshing. The leaves are strongly flavoured and make an excellent addition to stuffing’s for meats and preparation of fresh chutneys.

French and Spanish Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Thymol, an antiseptic, is an active ingredient found in thyme used in various commercially produced mouthwashes and alcohol-free hand sanitizers. Researchers have found that by infusing the herb in water it can be used for whooping cough, asthma and bronchitis. In traditional medicine it’s regarded as a good remedy to soothe stomach cramps, headaches and gas.