Oregano

Its Greek name originally meant “joy of the mountain.”  Aphrodite, it was said, created oregano to be a symbol of happiness.  Today, its most common uses in the States are in pizza sauces and Greek salad dressing.

There are also Turkish and Mexican varieties of oregano; each differs slightly in taste.  Brazilians, Cubans, and Colombians also use oregano in their dishes.  Sweet marjoram is a close relative of oregano, though its flavor isn’t quite as pronounced.  You can use them interchangeably.

Tags: greek, herb history, latin, mexican, oregano