Organic Spanish Thyme, Thymus mastichina, is an amazing plant. Unlike other thymes it reaches a height of 50cms; with large white flowers.

It’s leaves have a strong eucalyptus flavour coming from the high levels of eucalyptol oil in the leaves  as well as the more usual thyme oil linalool

It has long been used in the treatment of colds and arthritis, but recently it has received a lot of research as it properties have found to be effective as  anticancer, antiviral, insecticidal, repellent, anti-Alzheimer, and anti-inflammatory treatments.

Taste wise it is wonderful herb for food, used like other thymes for roast and stews, I make a marinade for oily fish and meat simply adding red wine and rosemary. It is also used to marinade green olives. I have done a few tastings with chefs at Slow Food Catalan events and it has won over a few Catalan taste buds.

Organic Spanish Thyme grows wild across most of the Iberian peninsula and across the Maghreb , indeed one its common names is Moroccan oregano. It thrives in full fun and poor soil. Despite its warm origins it supports cold up to -10C.

Once again it can be grown from seed but tip cuttings in Spring grow faster and in my opinion give stronger plants.

For more info see Pete’s Guide to Growing Organic Thyme

For more details on Thymus mastichina’s medical properties see the article in the National Library of Medicine