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Origanum vulgare
Origanum vulgare
Did you know that… ?
  1. …the name "Oregano" comes from a Greek word meaning joy from the mountains?
  2. …there are numerous subspecies of oregano and most of them grow in Greece, where they are called by the group name "rigani"?
  3. …oregano and marjoram are close relatives, but in the kitchen they are not at all compatible?
  4. …oregano is the main ingredient in all pizza spices?
  5. …oregano aids digestion of fatty foods and enhances their flavor?
  6. …oregano is used in aromatherapy, where its vapors assist healing of the common cold and coughing, and aids relaxation?
  7. …oregano is an essential ingredient in the herb mix known as Provencal spice (basil, tarragon, oregano, rosemary, savory, thyme)?
  8. …oregano as a spice is the fresh or dried leaves of the herb Origanum vulgare?
Dried oregano leafs

Chicken with rowan and oregano

1 chicken or chicken thighs
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons hot mustard
1 teaspoon dried or tablespoon fresh oregano
1 tablespoon oil
2 onions
50 g bacon
2 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons fresh rowanberries (or preserved, without the liquid), salt

Quarter chicken and salt to taste. Prepare a paste from flour, mustard, oregano, salt and oil. Spread onto chicken portions and place in baking disk with coarsely chopped onions. Lay in bacon slices, baste with water and bake. Towards the end, baste chicken with butter, add rowanberries to drippings and finish baking. Each portion receives some rowanberries and onion juice. Serve with rice, potato croquettes or similar. Also appropriate is salad made with Chinese cabbage, accompanied by preserved rowanberries.


Oregano was supposedly created by the Greek goddess Aphrodite as a symbol of happiness. Romans and Egyptians used it in their baths. In the Czech Republic, oregano is one of the "midsummer flowers", gathered on the patron saint's day of St. John (June 24th). It is supposed to guard people and animals all year against "evil spirits". Oregano was used as a wedding garland. It was thought to boost the groom's love, and it was even believed that oregano could magically conjure love. Eating oregano with meals was supposed to bring good thoughts and a happy mood.