It has the strong, distinctive flavor that we most associate with the herb today. Another good culinary option is French thyme Thymus vulgaris. French thyme is a variety of English thyme that has narrower, grey-green leaves and a slightly sweeter flavor.
It is often preferred by chefs, and is excellent for seasoning meat, fish, soup, and vegetables. Just remember that its English counterpart is not only more robust, but has better cold tolerance. One of my favorite thymes is lemon thyme Thymus x citriodorus.
The two most common uses for lemon thyme are for culinary purposes cooking , as well as being used as a ground cover for planting beds, stepping stone paths, or in containers as it has a draping growing habit when grown in a pot. In addition, thyme can be used as an essential oil. The thyme essential oil is often mixed with other essential oils such as primrose, can be used to treat acne, hair loss, and even has shown promise in future use for treating breast cancer.
Benefits of having both common thyme and lemon thyme in your garden include having a seasoning option right in your backyard. The best time to harvest thyme is before it flowers, as it can sometimes taste bitter after flowering.
Lemon thyme is often paired with lemon or lemon zest when cooking to bring out the lemony flavor. Thyme is a great seasoning to use in Mediterranean dishes, and pairs well with other herb plants such as fresh sprigs of rosemary , high quality olive oil, and pairs well with Italian seasoning.
The dried version makes a perfect herb to cook with as it stores well over the winter. If you want to try growing your own seeds, I would definitely start them inside under grow lights. You can get seeds here. I would get a cutting from a friend and root it in water until it develops some roots, or purchase a thyme plant at the garden center.
While Common thyme is generally available at most nurseries, lemon thyme is more of a specialty and may need to be ordered online. Check here to see if you can buy your own lemon thyme.
Growing Thyme is similar to growing another popular herb, rosemary. Thyme is an upright grower unless its the creeping variety and a perennial plant. This means it will be there year after year and in fact, is an evergreen which means it will be green year round depending on your zone. Tip: For more replacement ideas check out our article on lemon thyme substitutes.
Lemon thyme can be used to replace the regular variety but we recommend using it sparingly to avoid overpowering the dish with citrus. These substitutes have similar flavor profiles and can be used to replace fresh or dried thyme. Any variety of thyme is best stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Before placing the herbs in a bag, loosely wrap the sprigs in a damp paper towel. This will help to extend their life. The leaves will last two weeks when refrigerated, if left on the stem.
To save space in the fridge you could also pick the leaves and store them in a small airtight container. Once picked, the leaves will last three days refrigerated. Store dried thyme in a cool dark place like the pantry for up to three years. Use a plastic or glass container that seals well to ensure no moisture can get to the herbs. Thyme is believed to have originated from the southern Mediterranean and there are records of it being used by Knights in Roman times.
Although it was used as a food, it had many other uses. The herb was thought to provide strength to armor and fight off poison, among other things. There is more debate about lemon thyme and where it first came from. Originally, people thought it was a hybrid of thyme and lemon, but DNA tests have proved these theories incorrect.
Back in it was first described as a distinct species of its own, and this appears to be correct. Click to see full answer. Similarly, it is asked, can you substitute lemon thyme for regular thyme? Lemon zest and thyme would be a perfect substitute for lemon thyme. Lemon thyme is an entirely different species from regular thyme , but the name is very apropos.
Additionally, what can be used instead of thyme? If you're out of thyme, substitute an equal amount of savory, marjoram or oregano. This will come closest to the intended flavor. If you don't have any of these herbs on hand, poultry seasoning, Herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning will also work, since these spice blends all contain thyme. Lemon thyme is one of the many varieties of thyme. It looks just like regular thyme , with long, thin sprigs with tiny spear-shaped green leaves.
You'll notice a difference immediately when you crush a few of its leaves and breath in its sweet, lemony aroma. Use Lemon thyme in marinades for chicken and fish, or add chopped Lemon thyme , salt and pepper, to quartered new potatoes for a citrusy take on roasted potatoes.
Fresh leaves can be added to green salads or fruit salads for a hint of citrus. Include Lemon thyme in your herb blends for stocks and soups. Not only will you get a similar flavor, your dish will look the same since there will be thyme leaves in it. If you decide to use this substitute, a ratio of 1 part lemon zest to 3 parts common thyme should provide you with a good approximation of the lemon thyme flavor.
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