The Spruce Eats: What Is Thyme? Thyme is one of the most commonly used herbs in the world. You can grow it in your garden and use it substitute for thyme or dried in all kinds of dishes. Jess Kapadia is a food writer and editor with a decade of experience specializing in food and dining.
Thyme is an herb whose small leaves grow on clusters of thin stems. Common thyme and lemon thyme are the varieties most often used in cooking. Lemon thyme looks similar to common thyme but offers a distinctive lemon aroma and flavor. You may also encounter woolly thyme, creeping thyme, wild thyme, and elfin thyme—all of which are better suited for rock garden filler than culinary use. The origins of thyme can be traced back to ancient societies throughout the Mediterranean, though it’s now grown and cooked with all over the world. Its uses have not always been purely culinary, however. There is evidence of ancient Egyptians utilizing thyme’s powerful antiseptic properties in embalming rituals.
During the Black Death in the Middle Ages, thyme’s active antiseptic compound, thymol, was thought to protect from infection and was used to treat skin lesions caused by the disease. Later, thyme was considered an indication of the presence of mythical fairies. Throughout its documented history, thyme has been incorporated into food preservation methods, owing to its pleasant herbal flavor and antibacterial properties. Dried thyme leaves can be substituted for fresh in any application, but use one-third as much dried thyme as you would use fresh. Lemon thyme’s citrus fragrance is the most prominent note in that variety. Thyme can be used in its whole form, or by picking individual leaves from the stem with a gentle pinching motion at the base of each leaf cluster. Thyme leaves can be added, whole or chopped, to a dish at any stage of cooking.
The longer they cook, however, the more flavor they’ll provide. Thyme stems are fibrous and won’t break down during cooking, so if using whole thyme stems, pick them out and discard before serving. Thyme is typically used in savory dishes like braised or roasted meat, vegetables, or fish, as well as in savory baking. It can also be used to add flavor and depth to marinades, soups and stocks, cocktail elements, and teas. Buy packaged fresh thyme in the refrigerated produce section year-round and dried leaves in the spice aisle. You can also find thyme at many farmer’s markets. Select a bunch with abundant, bright green leaf clusters on long stems featuring multiple sprigs.