Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Thymus vulgaris, the species most commonly cultivated under the name thyme, is a culinary herb of the mint family Lamiaceae native to Southeast Europe, grown for the dried aerial parts used in cooking, medicine and ornamental planting. The wider genus Thymus is native to Mediterranean regions including North Africa, the Levant and Southern Europe, with wild thyme thought to have originated in the Levant. The herb carries a long history: ancient Egyptians used it in embalming, the Greeks burned it as temple incense and bathed with it as a symbol of courage, Romans spread it through Europe to purify rooms and flavor cheeses and liqueurs, and medieval Europeans placed it under pillows for sleep and on coffins as a symbol of safe passage to the afterlife. Today it remains a standard component of the French seasoning blends bouquet garni and herbes de Provence, central to Mediterranean cooking.