Oregano 'Cuban'

Cuban Oregano Plants

Plectranthus amboinicus

AKA: Spanish Thyme or Mexican Mint

This plant is a wonderful plant - great smell, delicious flavor and an easy grower. The flavor is much stronger than a Greek Oregano ~ the leaves contain pungent oils and use much less in any recipes calling for oregano.

A lovely plant with thick fuzzy leaves, grayish green and finely haired, with a saw toothed edge. It produces small, delicate flowers that are tubular in nature and come in pink, white and lavender. The plant has a lovely trailing habit, and works well in a container. The plant emits a strong menthol scent when the leaves are crushed. A semi tropical, it must be brought inside in any zone below 9, but the good news is that it grows well indoors as long as you place the pot in a bright sunny window. Outdoors, make sure to provide your plant with a little afternoon shade as full sun may be too strong. And, this plant has succulent fleshy leaves so make sure that you don't over water, and provide well-draining soil.

Mexican Mint Plants

As a culinary herb, use Cuban Oregano (Mexican Mint) as you would any other oregano but again, remember that you need to use much less that the recipe recommends. The leaves can be used fresh or dried, and works well with meats, poultry and added fresh to soups and stews.

Medicinally, Cuban Oregano has been used to treat lots of ailments: respiratory issue, rheumatism, constipation and flatulence.

Plant in part sun making sure that the soil drains well. Oreganos do not like 'wet feet'!