Thyme (common or garden)

Thymus vulgaris (Labiatae)

Thyme can be found in our Use with Anything and Traditional French blends.

This easy to grow aromatic herb is evergreen, with small grey-green leaves and gnarled stems. It grows to a height of about 12in (30cm), although can creep along the ground in a prostrate form. It flowers in the summer, with either lilac or white small fragrant blooms, and is a haven for bees.

It grows wild on heathland and warm, dry, rocky banks. Thyme is also grown widely on a commercial basis, its leaves being used for culinary purposes as well as for essential oils.

A common garden shrub, it is well loved by gardeners, not only because of its usefulness in the kitchen, but also because it comes in many variegated forms, providing a decorative addition to hedges and shrubberies alike.

Thyme has been used for centuries in many different ways, such as for tonics, herbal infusions, a treatment for digestive disorders and respiratory ailments (eg the loosening of phlegm!). It is an antiseptic and is often added to essential oils, toothpaste, perfumes and toiletries, and liqueurs (yes, we are looking for a good recipe! As soon as we have tried and tested a good one, we will let you all in on the method).

Amongst its many uses in the culinary world, it is often found (in small quantities) in bouquets garnis and stuffings for savoury dishes.

Look out for the other varieties of Thyme:

• Lemon Thyme – fantastic with fish or chicken
• Caraway Thyme – offering a strong caraway flavour
• Wild Thyme – a very hardy plant, with a mild flavour, useful in the garden to form a good ground cover