Organic Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an aromatic perennial herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae) known for its flavourful dried leaves and flowering tops. Native to the hills of the Mediterranean countries, it has long been an essential ingredient of Mediterranean cooking for its strong aroma and warm pungent taste. Oregano is usually grown as a small evergreen subshrub in mild climates. The young stems are typically square and hairy and become woody with age. The flowers are small and borne in clusters; they range in colour from white to pink or pale purple. All varieties contain essential oil, the principal components of which are thymol and carvacrol.
