Thyme Leaves

Product Description

English Name: Thyme Leaves
Botanical Name: Thymus Vulgaris
Description: Organic + Conventional
Origin: Morocco
Composition: 100%  natural plant
 
Thyme herb nutrition facts
 
Thyme herb is packed with numerous health benefiting phyto-nutrients (plant derived compounds), minerals and vitamins that are essential for overall wellness. One of the popular among culinary herb plants, thyme originally is native to the southern Europe and Mediterranean regions.
 
Botanically, it belongs to the family of Limiaceae, in the genus of thymus,which includes many subspecies among which the most popular variety is Thymus vulgaris or French thyme.
 
The thyme plant is a perennial shrub with thin woody base, and square stems. It reaches about 15 to 30 cm in length, featuring very small, light green with paler underneath, slightly curved aromatic leaves. Tiny, fragrant rich, lilac or white color flowers appear in summer.
 
The other commonly grown varieties of thyme are lemon thyme (T.x citriodora), caraway thyme (T. herba barona) and wild thyme (T. septyllum). Either leaves as well as flowering tips; fresh or dried used for culinary purposes.
 
Health benefits of thyme herb
 
Thyme contains many active principles that known to have disease preventing and health promoting properties.
 
Thyme herb contains thymol, one of the important essential oils. Thymol has been found scientifically to have antiseptic, and anti-fungal characteristics. The other volatile oils in thyme include carvacolo, borneol, and geraniol.
 
Thyme contains many flavonoid phenolic antioxidants like zea-xanthin, lutein, pigenin, naringenin, luteolin, and thymonin. Fresh thyme herb has one of the highest antioxidant levels among herbs, a total ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value of 27,426-µmol TE/100 g.
 
Thyme is packed with minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Its leaves are one of the richest sources of potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and selenium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is required for red blood cell formation.
 
The herb is also a rich source of many important vitamins such as B-complex vitamins, beta carotene, vitamin-A, vitamin-K, vitamin-E, vitamin-C, and folic acid.
 
Thyme provides 0.35 mg of vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine; furnishing about 27% of daily recommended intake. Pyridoxine keeps up GABA (beneficial neurotransmitter in the brain) levels in the brain which has a role as stress buster.
 
Vitamin-C helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
 
Vitamin-A is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that is required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is also essential for vision. Consumption of natural foods rich in flavonoids like vitamin A and beta-carotene helps protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
 
Thyme leaves offer significant levels of quality phyto-nutrients profile. Just 100 g of fresh leaves provides (% of Recommended daily allowance)
 
38% of dietary fiber,
27% of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine),
266% of vitamin-C,
158% of vitamin-A,
218% of iron,
40% of calcium,
40% of magnesium, and
75% of manganese
but no cholesterol.
 
Selection and storage
 
Both fresh and dried forms of thyme herb can be available in the herb store. Buy fresh thyme whenever possible since it is superior in nutrients and rich in flavor. The leaves of fresh thyme should feature light green, and free from any dark spots or yellowing.
 
Fresh thyme should be stored in the refrigerator wrapped in a slightly dampen paper towel. Dried thyme can be kept in a tightly sealed glass container and stored in a cool, dark, and dry place, where it will keep fresh for up to six months.
 
Culinary uses
 
Thyme herb imparts intense flavor to the recipes, and therefore, should be added sparingly. In order to keep its fragrance and flavor intact, thyme herb is generally added at the last moment in the cooking recipes. This is because, prolonged cooking results in evaporation of its essential oils.
 
Here are some serving methods:
    Thyme herb tea is a popular health drink.
    Thyme has been used in the preparation of season soups, and sauces.
    The herb is one of the ingredients in bouquet garni along with bay leaf, parsley, and celery.
    Thyme, along with other spicy items, has been used to marinate and stuffing to chicken, fish and meat recipes.
 
Medicinal uses
Thyme contains many important essential oils, which are found to have anti-septic and anti-fungal applications.
Throat gargling with tepid thyme water or drinking few sips of thyme tea may help relieve coughs, sore throat, and bronchitis symptoms.
In the pharmacy, thyme based formulations has been used as an anti-septic mouthwash in the treatment of caries and gingivitis