Origin of the Spice and History

Oregano is native to the Mediterranean and East Asia. Some species of it are believed to have been cultivated in Egypt since at least 1000 BC. The Egyptians were thought to have used it as a medicine and a preservative, as well as a disinfectant. Some of the earliest evidence of the herb dates from around 1500 BC, where images of oregano were inscribed on stone tablets by the Hittites in Asia (the ancient Anatolians).

The ancient Greeks would have likely been the earliest people to have used this herb. It became common in several Greek traditions including wedding ceremonies, where wreaths of oregano would crown the couple’s heads. It was also prized for its healing abilities and particularly as an antiseptic.