Oregano & Basil

Italy`s two most popular and famous spice, oregano and basil have divine and demonic history. According to mythology, at least.

Oregano was first known by the ancient Greek. They believed that Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty and joy created the herb to please mankind. The plant has grown on hillsides that is why its name means `delight of the mountains`, from the Greek `oros` meaning mountain, and `ganos` the word for joy. Thanks to the Roman Empire, it got to places like Northern Africa, and most parts of Europe. They used it to spice fish, different meats, and even wine. In the middle ages, people used it as a medicine for cough, rheumatism, indigestion.

The spice road of the Middle East took it to China, where they cured fever, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, and itchy skin with it. However, it was well-known in England, the United States did not know about it until the Second World War. Soldiers brought it back after tasting it in Italy.
Oregano’s slightly bitter, intense, warm taste is best known from pizza. The leaves are used as spice; other parts of the plant are not useful. For its shape, it is often mistaken for marjoram, but their taste definitely helps to distinguish. It also grows in Mexico, but its flavor is stronger than the Mediterranean’s. Nowadays it is commonly used in Italy with garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes.

Basil is native to India, bush basil to South America. It came to Europe on the same spice road oregano went to Asia. Indians took it really seriously; they swore their oaths on it in court. In Italy, it is the symbol of love. Suitors displayed their love with a sprig of basil in their hair. It also can bring love back in Mexico. If a man in Romania accepts it from a woman, they become engaged. In the Greek Orthodox Church holy water is prepared with it; for it grew around Jesus Christ’s tomb. In the ancient Rome, it was a charm against Basilisk, a great mythological dragon. The Greek respected it that much that they thought only the king should harvest it with a golden sickle. On the other hand, this herb was feared for they thought that it is able to cause spontaneous generation of scorpions, or grow them in the brain after tasting it…Basil is still associated with the astrological sign of the Scorpio.

They use the fresh leaves at least that much in Thailand as they do in Italy. Its refreshing, aromatic taste makes it perfect for salads, pasta, pesto sauce…The possibilities are almost endless. And they match with oregano.