Cuban Oregano (LIVE PLANT ) ,CARIBBEAN PRODUCT Gonzalez AgroGardens

Description/Taste

Cuban oregano is a hardy, succulent herb. It has a stem similar to that of a succulent with new growth offering more delicate green stems. Cuban oregano leaves are rounded, thick, and velvety and grow in pairs around the stem. The leaves are green and serrated along the edges, though some varieties have a variegated color and more deeply-toothed margins. Cuban oregano has a strong, pungent and musky aroma, with a flavor profile that is similar to traditional Italian oregano with a hint of thyme.

Common names

• Cuban Oregano
• Indian Borage
• Mexican Mint
• Mexican Thyme
• Orégano Brujo
• Spanish Thyme

Applications
Cuban oregano can be used in place of other oregano varieties, thyme or other herbs with a similar flavor profile. The pungent aroma and strong flavor of Cuban oregano pairs well with meat and fish. Stuff pork with fresh Cuban oregano or use to marinate chicken or beef. Cuban oregano can also be sautéed along with assorted vegetables, or added to soups and stews as an aromatic. Store unwashed Cuban oregano in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Ethnic/Cultural Info
Cuban oregano is often found in the local cuisines in Cuba, India and the Philippines. In the West Indies, which includes Haiti, Jamaica ,Puerto Rico and smaller islands, Cuban oregano is added to traditional ‘jerk’ seasoning blends, bean dishes and salsas. The succulent herb has been used in Ayurvedic practices for centuries in India and throughout Indonesia, prescribed as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, to induce sweating to relieve a fever and as a diuretic.

Plectranthus amboinicus or Cuban oregano is a sprawling, slightly juicy plant, which grows up to a height of 1 meter. While the plants are horizontal at the base, their branchlets are ascending and densely covered with bristles. The leaves have petioles, which are anything between 1 cm and 4.5 cm in length. The petioles are compactly pubescent, while the blades are plump. The shape of the leaves varies from roughly ovate to rhombic, sub-orbicular or kidney-shaped to rounded to truncate and afterward usually long and slender at their base, while being thick or curved at the apex. Along the margin, the leaves are roughly crenate (having notched or scalloped margins in order to form rounded teeth) to dentate (tooth-like projections) or complete near the base. The leaves are closely pressed (appressed) as well as pubescent both above as well as beneath.