Greek Oregano

History

The name oregano derives from the Greek "oros" (mountain) and "ganos" (joy), literally meaning "joy of the mountain"—a name the ancient Greeks gave to the aromatic herb that carpeted their hillsides. Aphrodite, goddess of love, was said to have created oregano as a symbol of happiness, and Greek brides and grooms wore wreaths of oregano at their weddings. The herb spread throughout the Mediterranean with Greek and Roman expansion, becoming fundamental to cuisines from Italy to Turkey. However, oregano remained relatively unknown in America until World War II, when returning GIs brought back a taste for the "pizza herb" they had encountered in Italy. The explosion of pizza popularity in postwar America transformed oregano from an obscure Mediterranean herb to a supermarket staple. True Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) is significantly more pungent than common oregano, with higher concentrations of carvacrol—the compound responsible for its distinctive flavor and aroma. Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is actually a different plant entirely, though it serves a similar culinary purpose in Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking. Oregano oil has gained popularity in the wellness industry for its potent antimicrobial compounds, though these are present in much lower concentrations in the culinary herb.