Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a pungent Mediterranean herb from the mint family, used widely in cooking, traditional medicine, and even historically in rituals.
What thyme is:
What thyme is:
Thyme is a culinary herb made from the dried aerial parts of plants in the genus Thymus, part of the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It is native to Mediterranean regions of North Africa, the Levant, and southern Europe.
The most commonly cultivated species is Thymus vulgaris, known for its aromatic leaves and flowering tops.
Botanical traits:
Small, low‑growing shrub with woody stems.
Tiny oval to linear leaves, opposite arrangement.
Purple or white tubular flowers that attract bees.
Grows best in hot, sunny, well‑drained soil and tolerates drought well.