Some may even have a slight cooling effect, though not nearly as potent as actual mint. I hope you find this blog helpful and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me! Using it in place of oregano means that it wont necessarily ruin the meal but you wont get the classic oregano flavor either. And who decided one was the regular oregano and one was Mexican oregano. You can even find Mexican oregano used in t de pais, also called country tea.. Mexican oregano has a floral, citrusy taste with a touch of anise. While Mexican and Italian oregano leaves can be used fresh or dry in cooking, we suggest using the dried spice when cooking Mexican. So whats the difference between oregano and Mexican oregano? What's the difference between Mexican and Italian oregano? There are other differences between oregano and Mexican oregano. Choosing a winner out of Italian and Mexican oregano is tough because they both have their uses in the kitchen. Italian oregano is with milder spicy flavor than Greek oregano while Turkish oregano has a sweet, slightly spicy, and mellow flavor. Baked potatoes are a delicious treat! What you need to know, 4 ways to incorporate Epsom salt into your garden, 5 companion plants to keep your chive plants company, Plants that pair well with chives in the garden or in the kitchen. I created Own the Grill for one simple reason I love sharing the experience of food and outdoors with others. Mexican oregano and oregano come from unrelated plants even though they share a name. If you order today, this is the estimated delivery . Add it to dry rubs for roasted or smoked meat as well as to soups and stews that require long cooking times. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. These bright and succulent grilled chicken breasts are perfect for wrapping in warm tortillas with spoonfuls of fresh salsa verde. As these soldiers ate his canned spaghetti, they came to enjoy oreganos sassy flavor. Mediterranean oregano has a slightly sweet taste, with bitter or peppery secondary notes. Marjoram has a slightly more citrusy top note and is often recommended as a better substitute for Mexican Oregano rather than Greek Oregano. Your email address will not be published. Marjoram will also work as a substitute for Mediterranean oregano, or you can use thyme, basil, or sage. It pairs well with chile peppers, ground meat, onions, garlic, cumin, and paprika; use this in your favorite pot of chili whenever possible. You will commonly find it added to pasta sauces, grilled meats and pizza. Oregano sales climbed more than 5200 percent between 1948 and 19561; once oregano entered the inner circle of staple kitchen spices, it never left. And pay attention to the amounts you put in. Thanks for giving this a read Gigi. Required fields are marked *. It has a sweet, earthy, a bit bitter flavor with hints of citrus and pine. Because Mexican oregano is always sold dried, it will last you through many pots of beans. Mexican oregano, on the other hand, is brighter with floral and citrus notes and a hint of anise, flavors that are characteristic of most herbs in the verbena family. You should use oregano for grilled meats and burgers, fish and seafood, vegetables, Greek salads, or other salads. Only 2 left in stock - order soon. Mexican oregano is very different. Regular oregano is an Italian and Mediterranean spice with minty undertones. Grow these herbs for Halloween to make your celebration even spookier, Spook up your Halloween with these easy-to-grow herbs, Is Epsom salt good for houseplants? Sharing similar appearances and some flavor notes, oregano and Mexican oregano actually feature differences that make each suitable for specific dishes. What does NPK mean when it comes to fertilizing plants? Oregano has a minty quality along with a subtle bitterness that enhances its savory properties. Of all the Mediterranean oregano varieties, Italian is the mildest and is delicious added to pasta sauce, pizzas, or used as part of a meat rub seasoning. Mexican and Greek Oregano are excellent herbs to cook, delivering terrific flavor. It has a subtle sweet taste to it. At the end of the day, both are prolific growers that are easy to care for. For those who didnt grow up eating Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, seeing Mexican oregano included in a recipe may raise a question or two. Or you can use only oregano as a substitute for Mexican oregano. It has developed a unique flavor when compared to the oregano from other parts of the Mediterranean. While the most commonly used type is the Mediterranean oregano thats found in most grocery stores, theres also a variety known as Mexican oregano thats used extensively in Latin American and Tex-Mex cuisine. Oregano is a widely used spice in many cuisines over the world. Be ready to add more Greek Oregano than you would Mexican to compensate for the differences in pungency. It matches perfectly with dishes from that region. Please let me know if you have any questions. Because these grass-like plants are cold hardy, you can even grow them in the fall. The edible foliage is strongly aromatic, and deer tend to avoid it. This Mexican herb is strong and pungent and, like its Greek counterpart, delivers bitter and peppery flavors. It lends balance to woodsy Mexican spices like allspice and cinnamon and heightens the citrus flavors that are so prevalent in Mexican dishes. However, you can find them all over the world. Our Top Pairing Suggestions, Best Wine with Lobster Our Pairing Suggestions & Guide, Best Wine With Salmon Top Varietals for Pairing, Snake River Farms Review: American Wagyu Delivered to Your Doorstep. Quantity Add to basket Loading Arrives by 04-13 Mar if you order today. Mexican oregano is known to many by various names such as Mexican marjoram, wild oregano, and even Mexican wild sage. Youll notice the similarity, as Mexican oregano has citrus undertones that blend with its earthy flavor. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The oregano used in Mediterranean cuisine, and what I would call true oregano, is part of the mint family and is closely related to marjoram, whereas Mexican oregano is actually part of the verbena family. It can make an enjoyable cup of tea much like its cousin, lemon verbena. Mexican oregano pairs well with the seasonings that tend to show up in Mexican cooking like cumin and peppers. Greek oreganos are made from wild plants, while Mexican oreganos are made from domesticated plants. True oregano is slightly sweet with bitter and peppery notes, likely stemming from its roots (pun unapologetically intended) in the mint family. Thus, they are different types of plants, with different looks, flavors and work well in different dishes. If it were to be prefaced with geography it would be Mediterranean because it grows throughout Italy, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco. Profiles, comparisons, substitution recommendations, cooking tips, and more. Dominican Oregano vs. So whats the real difference between oregano and Mexican oregano? Greek oregano, also known as rigani is originated in Greece. This member of the mint family thrives indoors in bright light with a bit of afternoon shade in hot sunny windows. You can substitute oregano for Mexican oregano if you dont have any other herb to use. Instead of true oregano, marjoram and lemon verbena will give you more of the citrus note you may be looking for. Because of this fundamental resemblance, it was given the Spanish name oregano even though it was used long before the Spanish came to Mexico. But did you know that there are actually two different types of oregano? Oregano can work as a substitute for Mexican oregano especially since people outside of Mexico are most likely to have it in their spice cabinets, though it is not the best possible substitute. Dominican Oregano differs in smell and taste than regular oregano but it's delicious either way! Well, thats not really an accurate way of putting it. It is also peppery or citrusy and spicy. Marjoram is another substitute you can use for either oregano or Mexican oregano. But when you smell and taste them side by side, the differences become more apparent. Use it with lamb, beef, chicken, or combine it with olive oil as a base for your next Italian vinaigrette. $798 ($7.98/Ounce) FREE delivery Fri, Feb 17 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon. Both oregano and Mexican oregano can be used in the same recipes, but Mexican oregano is best for Mexican dishes and spicy, flavorful meals. While Mediterranean oregano is a staple of many classic Italian and Greek dishes, Mexican oregano is most often used in Latin American and Tex-Mex cuisine. Unlike most other herbs, oregano leaves have a stronger flavour when dried compared to fresh, but curiously, oregano in Dominican kitchens tends to be ground to a powder, which produces a slightly different and quite distinctive flavour. It is made from leaves that have are crunchy texture and small flower buds. You can use it as a substitute because marjoram has a similar flavor to Mexican oregano. Brew some fresh leaves in boiled water and enjoy it hot. Are you curious about the differences between Mexican oregano (sometimes called Puerto Rican oregano) and Mediterranean oregano (often simply called oregano)? Thats why it has the same flavor and scent as oregano. Oregano is a culinary herb, used for the flavor of its leaves, which can be more flavorful when dried than fresh. Chives are easy-going herbs that pack a delicious onion flavor while growing with little fuss. Both are bitter herbs and share some flavor-defining essential oils. But they do differ in how they look and grow. Get it Mar 10 - 17. Mexican Oregano, Lippia graveolens, is a relative newcomer to US palates. These herbs are powerful and potent. Whether youre making a classic Italian pasta sauce or a spicy Mexican salsa, these two herbs can add depth, complexity, and flavor to your dishes. You can even buy it in powder form. Personally, I dont use Mexican and Mediterranean oregano interchangeably for the same reason I dont swap thyme for oregano: Theyre just not the same, even if they do taste a little similar. Your email address will not be published. A Mexican oregano plant can grow to reach a height of six feet tall, while Mediterranean oregano maxes out around two feet tall. Native to Mexico, it also grows in Central and South America and is sometimes referred to as Puerto Rican oregano. Like Mexican oregano, oregano is relatively pest resistant, although you may occasionally encounter spider mites or aphids. Both types of oregano have a pungent, slightly bitter flavor thats often described as being slightly minty or citrusy. Not all types of oregano have the same flavor. Building on a lifelong passion for cooking and the memories of his dads less-than-stellar BBQ, Matthew has learned the ways of the grill through reading, practical application, and a lot of trial and error. Oregano comes from the mint family, Lamiaceae, while Mexican oregano comes from the Verbenaceae family. Due to this difference, these spices have different uses; Mexican oregano pairs well with cumin, chili, and paprika, while Italian oregano works well with basil, parsley, and thyme. He writes for various cooking blogs and has a passion for making fine dining recipes accessible to the at-home cook.