What is Thyme Leaf?

Thyme Leaf is the dried leaf of Thymus vulgaris, Common Thyme, a small aromatic perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is one of the iconic culinary herbs of the Mediterranean, with small gray-green leaves and a warm, savory scent that comes largely from the aromatic compounds thymol and carvacrol.

About the plant

Thyme has been cultivated across the Mediterranean for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks burned it as a temple incense and called it a herb of courage, and Roman writers recorded its place in the kitchen and the bath. In the kitchen it remains essential to French, Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern cooking: it is a backbone of the French bouquet garni, and dried wild thyme is a defining note in the Middle Eastern spice blend za'atar.

Thyme Leaf: form & sizes

We carry Thyme Leaf as dried cut leaf, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Thyme Leaf in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Thyme Leaf at a glance

Botanical name

Thymus vulgaris

Family

Lamiaceae (mint family)

Native region

the Mediterranean basin

Plant part

leaf

Also known as

Common Thyme, Garden Thyme

Aromatic compounds

Thymol, carvacrol, linalool

Form

dried cut leaf

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb