Oregano is popularly known as ‘Pizza herb’. In India, it is found in temperate Himalayas from
Jammu and Kashmir to
Sikkim.
It is piquant, spicy, pungent, and slightly bitter to taste. Oregano has erect reddish stem, ovate, opposite leaves and purple flowers. The dried herb is light grayish-green in color. The crop is harvested when in full blossom.
The spice is added to European cuisines such as pizza, meet, fish, cheese, Aubergine and Zucchini sauce. The oil is used for flavoring meat, tomato sauces, stuffing's, soups and beverages.
Oregano oil possesses carminative, stomachic, diuretic, diaphoretic properties. It is used in bronchitis and whooping cough. It also has antimicrobial and anti-oxidant properties. It is also used as an external application for healing wounds.
It is locally known as Sathra, Mirzanjosh and Kattumaruva.
