If you are wanting to grow an herb with extraordinary health impact as well as intense culinary flavor, then you will definitely want to explore cuban oregano and the many oregano tea benefits.
Many are aware of the health benefits of oregano, its uses, compounds (carvacrol and thymol), and particularly oil of oregano.
You will be happy to learn that cuban oregano is higher in both carvacrol and thymol than basic oregano varieties. Obtaining these compounds from cuban oregano is much simpler to do at home than distilling your own essential oil of oregano would be.
- Healing compounds found in cuban oregano:
- Ease of obtaining carvacrol and thymol from cuban oregano for home use:
- Brewing up the oregano tea benefits in several ways:
- More about Growing and Harvesting Cuban Oregano
- How to harvest Cuban oregano to experience the oregano tea benefits for yourself:
- Basic oregano tea benefits and uses:
Healing compounds found in cuban oregano:
- carvacrol: antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-obesity and is known to have other potential health benefits like diabetes prevention and anti-aging.
- camphor: stimulates nerves to calm pain and itching, creates a cold sensation that eases breathing, treats wounds and UV-induced wrinkles, heals burns, antispasmodic.
- thymol: respiratory relief, menstrual cramps, digestive aid, blood pressure, stress, antimicrobial agent.
Also, many are aware that while essential oils are useful and beneficial in home health, it really is not a sustainable harvesting model, especially for many of the trees. Additionally, most households are unable to process their own essential oils easily, making the distillation and use of essential oil preparations nearly an impossible and highly impractical self-sufficient practice long term.
I am not here to bash those of us who use essential oils. Rather, I am just wanting to raise some awareness that should any type of supply chain interruption take place, or a poor harvest be realized somewhere, many of our essential oils would be difficult, if not impossible to obtain.
Ease of obtaining carvacrol and thymol from cuban oregano for home use:
If you have basic kitchen skills like chopping, measuring, brewing, and a little time, you will be well on your way to enjoying the diverse oregano tea benefits that cuban oregano offers.
There are many of us who have seen relief from upper respiratory infections, common colds, cough, strep throat and more from using this wonderfully healing plant. Cuban oregano and the healing compounds it contains (carvacrol & thymol) are known to be a natural antibiotic.
The Indonesians use it as a lactation booster for new mothers needing to increase milk production. Cuban oregano is also widely use in other countries as a fever reducer as well as an anti-inflammatory.
If you are seeking relief from coughs due to asthma, bronchitis, or even a sore throat, you will be excited to learn these are some of the amazing benefits of drinking Oregano Tea. It is incredible for clearing out mucus and neutralizing viruses.
Brewing up the oregano tea benefits in several ways:
Any time you heat an herb or other plant, it’s volatile oils and compounds are released. If your goal is to reap the most from these compounds you will want to use them right away. Brewing a tea is by far the fastest and easiest way to reach this goal.
Here are a few ways you might enjoy the oregano tea benefits each day:
- Brew hot oregano tea
- Allow it to cool and use it as a mouthwash/gargle
- Chop and steep the leaves for use as a syrup
- Chop and add to culinary dishes such as eggs, black beans, salsas, etc.
More about Growing and Harvesting Cuban Oregano
Cuban Oregano is readily available if you live in a tropical region. It is often found in farmer’s markets and garden centers in those areas. Cuban oregano propagates SO READILY from cuttings. If you are able to find some I highly recommend that you grow some on your homestead.
Cuban Oregano does thrive in tropical regions, but you can easily overwinter an entire plant or a small cutting indoors for planting in the ground once freezing temperatures are gone.
One little note on Cuban Organo, as a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) cuban oregano grows on long stems with alternating succulent leaves. These succulent leaves are thick, fuzzy, and highly aromatic.
Like all mints, cuban oregano can spread easily but is not necessarily invasive. Cuban oregano can grow in shade but prefers full sun to part shade in soil that drains well. Since it is a succulent, cuban oregano is pretty drough-tolerant and forgiving.
An oregano by any other name would smell as strong…
If you are trying to find some cuban oregano, it is known by many of the following names due to its widespread use across the globe: Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, Spanish sage, French Oregano, Puerto Rican Oregano, Broadleaf thyme, Indian borage, Spanish thyme, Vick’s plant (mislabeled), and menthol plant.
How to harvest Cuban oregano to experience the oregano tea benefits for yourself:
You can definitely allow your cuban oregano plant(s) to grow out all season and harvest them at once, but I have found it much easier to do 3-5 separate harvests and prepare them for use in different ways. This ensures that I don’t have an unmanageable amount of cuban oregano to work with. Plus, the smell can be overwhelming and intense if you bring it in to a small space all at once for processing.
I have a video here that shows how I select and harvest my Cuban Oregano.
Cut the stems as low to the base as you wish. Cuban oregano will come back quickly and easily. Wash and DRY the leaves well so that there is no chance of rot. I like to remove the leaves from the stems, swish them well in a sink or large bowl, then I run them through my salad spinner in batches.
You can spread the succulent leaves out on towels to dry further but I have found this unnecessary as long as I am able to move on to the next processing step. This is different based on what I am making hot tea, syrup, gargle, culinary use, etc.
Basic oregano tea benefits and uses:
If you or someone in your home is suffering from a sore throat or cough, you can easily harvest and brew oregano tea on an as-needed basis. Simply harvest a stem with 6-8 small to medium leaves, wash and place in a pot on the stove with 12 ounces of flouride-free, filtered water. Place leaves in the water and allow to come almost to the boiling point, turn down your heat, cover the pot and allow to simmer gently (no boiling) for approximately 15 minutes. Remove from heat, strain, pour into a mug, sweeten with honey (you will need it), and stir. As you sip, allow yourself to inhale the steam deeply.
For a larger batch steep 1 cup of leaves with 4 cups of water for 20 minutes. Strain and enjoy hot or cold.
Steam Tent Tea.
Using the same steps as above, prepare the tea on the stove top. Chopping or slicing the leaves will allow you to expose more of the plant surface area which releases the valuable compounds thymol and carvacrol. At the end of the 15 minute simmer time, remove the oregano tea from the heat and allow to cool 5-7 minutes. You can pour into a more suitable bowl or keep in in the original pan at this point.
Being VERY CAUTIOUS to avoid burns to your skin, place the bowl or pot on a countertop or table, cover your head and the bowl with a large towel. Allow yourself to remain under this tent for 10-15 minutes as your body inhales the beneficial oils and healing compounds from the cuban oregano.
Use and storage of oregano tea:
When you prepare either mixture above and have any leftover, or you simply steep some Cuban oregano leaves expressly for this purpose, you have an amazing mouthwash and throat gargle. Both can be kept in the refrigerator and used daily as needed for up to 10 days.
Mouthwash: Steep approximately 2T chopped Cuban Oregano in 4 ounces of water. Note: once the water has boiled allow it to settle and re-structure for about 30 seconds then pour hot water over the herbs. Cover with a saucer or lid to maintain the volatile compounds and oils. Allow to steep for 10 minutes, strain, and allow to cool.
To use: Swish in mouth for 30 seconds. Use twice daily after brushing. If gums are inflamed you can use more frequently.
Throat Gargle: Repeat steps above as for preparing mouthwash. You may wish to keep the liquid slightly warm as you use to gargle and sooth your throat tissues. Stir in 1 teaspoon good mineral salt until dissolved. The leftover liquid can also be gently re-warmed as needed.
To use: Gargle in back of throat for 30 seconds or until you feel it begin to numb. Use 4-6x daily as needed to sooth throat and eliminate infection.
Sugar-steeped Cuban Oregano Syrup.
Making this Cuban oregano syrup for coughs is EXTREMELY easy, but does take some inactive time. Begin by harvesting your stems, stripping the leaves, washing and drying them as above.
Take the dried leaves, stack them and slice individually as shown below. Alternatively, you can also put them all into a food chopper of some kind and lightly chop the leaves.
Taking a clean vessel, mason jar, or airtight glass jar, begin layering in the oregano leaves, alternating with Organic Cane Sugar in between each layer. Press the leaves down tightly as you go.
Once the jar is full place the lid on it, put it in a dark cupboard or cabinet and allow to steep for 5 days then transfer to the refrigerator for 5 days more. The sugar will act to draw the liquids and beneficial compounds from the leaves of the Cuban Oregano. This steeping action is what you are waiting for.
In a hurry method: Once your jar is full you can place the jar in a slow cooker in a hot water bath. Put a weight on the jar so that it does not float and add water to cover at least until 1/3 full. As the contents warm, the sugar will dissolve and the mass in the jar will condense leaving the jar looking only partially filled.
You can do this on a very low setting on the stove top too, but you must watch it the whole time so that it never boils, which would neutralize some of the active compounds.
You will know that either method is complete when the fresh, mossy green leaves have darkened to brown/black and all of the sugar is completely dissolved in the plant liquid.
Place the contents in a strainer or cheesecloth and allow the liquid to run through in to a jar leaving the plant material behind. Use the backside of a spoon or spatula to press as much of the liquid goodness through the strainer in to the jar.
Use and storage of oregano cough syrup:
Because of the sugar content and preservation properties this will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. A typical adult would use this by taking 1 Tablespoon twice per day. For a child they could take 1 teaspoon twice per day.
Here is a link to a showing how I make Cuban Oregano Cough Syrup. You will also find a lot more information about the differences between common Organo varieties and Cuban Oregano that you will definitely find useful as you take charge of your health freedom. Be sure to check out that post.
Also, if you enjoyed learning some of the oregano tea benefits here, I would love for you to join our Dixie Delights newsletter community. From time to time I will keep you informed about new ways to grow your independence from systems and discover new ways to take charge of your life.
See you next time!