Herb - Thyme

This lovely healing herb is common in most kitchens and it is unlikely that you wouldn't find it in South-European culinary as a most important ingredient.
Let us share some great facts about thyme as a spice and its health benefits:

Thyme is a 'member' of the mint family. Thyme is an evergreen sub-shrub with spicy minty-lemony aroma, green-grayish leaves and white, pink, or purple flowers. 
Thyme requires lots of light and it stands well in dry weather. Thyme will grow about 20-50cm height and into a half-orb shape.

Teas and spice are made of its flowers, young shoots and sprigs. 

As a healing herb it cures stomach-ache, soothes cramps and coughs. It boosts the appetite. 
Baths of thyme are meant to re-fresh, re-energize you.

As a spice
, you can add it to meats, salads, cabbage-dishes, fishes, goat cheese, figs, dips and sauces. You can try it with tofu-meals but be careful dosing it to the food because it may change the food's basic taste totally. 
Store the dried thyme it in a closed jar, in a dark, dry place, for no longer than 6 months.

A little history (according to Wiki):
In ancient Egypt, thyme was used as a part of embalming. 
Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage.
In Europe it appeared due to the Romans, as they used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs".
In the middle-ages, in Europe, thyme was thought to ward off nightmares, so it was placed beneath pillows oftentimes. In this period, women would also often give knights and warriors gifts that included thyme leaves, as it was believed to bring courage to the bearer. 
Thyme was also used as incense and placed on coffins during funerals, as it was supposed to assure passage into the next life.




thyme pic by Szabi237 on wiki