Marjoram and oregano »What are the differences?

Marjoram and oregano differences

With an apparent similarity, marjoram and oregano hide the striking differences. If hobby gardeners or gourmets only take a cursory look, disappointment is inevitable. So that herbalists can use marjoram and oregano perfectly, the following table summarizes what distinguishes the two herbs:

Different origins and names indicate important botanical differences between marjoram and oregano, which are reflected in the appearance and taste of marjoram and oregano. These opposing properties are examined in more detail below:

Appearance

Delicately hairy parts of the plant are a distinctive feature of marjoram. The fine hairs mostly also cover the elongated to circular 20 mm to 25 mm small leaves. From June to September, marjoram takes on a distinctive flower dress of white, two-lipped flowers.

Oregano is characterized by smooth, 25 mm to 40 mm large, pointed leaves. Sometimes you can feel a very delicate hair on the edge of the leaf. From July to September, the herb plant sets itself in scene with pink to purple-colored, double-lipped flowers.

taste

Marjoram is said to have the loveliest aroma of all Origanum species. The gentle, sweet-spicy taste makes marjoram a popular ingredient in delicious spice mixtures with basil, thyme and rosemary. It is to this fact that the herb plant owes its alternative names, such as Wohlgemut and Wurstkraut.

Quiet, culinary tones are alien to oregano. Origanum vulgare has a strong taste in its luggage that does not tolerate any other herbs in the saucepan. Friends of Italian cuisine appreciate this and use oregano as the dominant herbal spice on their beloved pizza or adored tomato sauce, for example.

Origin and Cultivation

Although marjoram thrives for several years in its native areas of distribution, annual cultivation is recommended in the central European herb garden. In the permanently warm climate of Asia Minor, the heat-loving herbal plant has not learned to withstand temperatures below freezing point.

Native to the Mediterranean oregano, oregano is used to grief about freezing temperatures. Gardeners assign the herb plant to the winter hardiness zone Z5, which implies a frost hardiness of up to - 28.8 degrees Celsius. In the herb bed north of the Alps, Origanum vulgare can thrive for several years if a cover made of leaves and brushwood acts as winter protection.

Difference from thyme

In contrast to marjoram and oregano, thyme is its own genus within the mint family. Thanks to this fact, herbalists have a multitude of aromatic thyme species, such as real thyme (Thymus vulgare), Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus), sand thyme (Thymus serpyllum) or cushion thyme (Thymus cherlerioides) with a species-specific appearance and taste. The following important differences between marjoram and oregano and thyme should be noted for cultivation and use in the kitchen:

Cultivation Difference

in the Herb garden marjoram and thyme are at war with flowers, because annual and perennial herbs do not go together in the bed. Knowledgeable hobby gardeners therefore plan a reasonable distance between the two herbs. In contrast, oregano and thyme are good neighbors and thrive side by side.

Use difference

From a culinary point of view, the world of herbs is upside down. Mild marjoram and gentle thyme combine in the saucepan to create a spicy treat for the palate. The strong, tart taste of oregano, on the other hand, prohibits a liaison with thyme.