Cuban Oregano: Characteristics, Uses, and Care

cuban oregano

Succulents are easy to grow, attractive and aromatic. This is the case of cuban oregano. What is Cuban Oregano? It is a succulent plant in the Lamiaceae family, also known as Spanish thyme, Indian borage, and Mexican mint. It is not real oregano from the oregano family, but it does have the characteristic aroma of real oregano. Cuban oregano has many culinary and traditional uses. Once you know how to grow Cuban oregano, it is often used.

For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you everything you need to know about Cuban oregano, what are its characteristics and how to care for it.

Contents

What is Cuban Oregano?

Plectranthus amboinicus

Plectranthus amboinicus is a perennial succulent with fragrant leaves. It is usually grown as a houseplant, but thrives outdoors during warm seasons or summer. The leaves contain pungent oils which can be used in cooking.

Cuban oregano is said to have a much stronger flavor than Greek oregano, which is more commonly used to flavor pizza and other Mediterranean dishes. Harvesting Cuban oregano and using it in recipes can impart a flavor similar to traditional oregano, but should be used sparingly to avoid over-seasoning.

Cuban oregano is a member of the mint or nettle family. As a result, it has thick, hairy leaves with a strong, pleasant scent. The leaves are grayish green with fine hairs and serrated edges. The flowers are in panicles and can be white, pink or lilac.

These plants grow to a height of 12 to 18 inches (30.5 to 45 cm) and can develop a trailing habit that makes them attractive in hanging baskets. As a buried plant, it spreads out into a small, mound-like ground cover. The growing demand for Cuban oregano differs from traditional oregano because it can burn in full sun and perform better in light-colored environments.

How to Grow Cuban Oregano

potted cuban oregano

Choose a location with sandy, well-drained, partly sunny soil for this little plant.. It is frost sensitive, but does well all year round in tropical and subtropical regions. In temperate regions, grow the plants in containers and bring them indoors in the fall.

Cuban oregano grows mainly in spring and summer and likes hot, dry conditions. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need water. Plants they need regular watering but cannot survive permanently wet rootstherefore drainage is particularly important.

Growing the plant in a container makes it easier to meet the growing needs of Cuban oregano by moving it when the seasonal sun heats up certain areas of the garden. Some midday shade is needed to keep the leaves from burning and spoiling their appearance.

It is propagated by cuttings. For large-scale cultivation, planting in cells of 0.9 x 0.4 m is sufficient at any time of the year. 27,700 cuttings per hectare are needed to cover the entire field. The vegetative cycle is about 390 days. Urea should be applied at 60 kg/ha after each leaf harvest.

Uses of Cuban Oregano

Leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus

Cuban oregano leaves can be used like regular oregano. Harvesting Cuban oregano leaves for traditional medicinal purposes dates back centuries. It can be used to treat respiratory tract and throat infections, as well as rheumatism, constipation, flatulence and to help stimulate lactation.

Modern applications use it as a substitute for Mediterranean oregano, either dried or fresh. The leaves can be dried and ground to add to meat dishes. Small amounts of fresh leaves are used in soups and stews, and for stuffing poultry and other meats. Be careful, since the strong flavor of the plant can overpower other condiments.

This little plant has attractive leaves and flowers that attract pollinators, and using it in the kitchen adds another tool to your culinary prowess.

Medical properties

When we talk about Cuban oregano we only think of its culinary uses as a condiment for dishes and decoration in the kitchen. However, this woody herb has been widely used since ancient times to treat and/or prevent various diseases.

This is how the Chinese use it to treat fever, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and skin problems. Traditional Austrian medicine uses it as a tea to treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and nervous system, or as a topical ointment. Hippocrates used it as an antiseptic and for respiratory and gastric ailments. Chewing the leaves is recommended to relieve rheumatism, gum and toothache, indigestion and cough.

precisely for to fight unpleasant cough, we recommend brewing a cup of oregano tea. Put a handful of fresh or dried oregano leaves in a liter of boiling water. Let them boil for about three minutes, then remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture sit for about five minutes. After that, strain the mixture. Serve, sweetened with a tablespoon of honey if possible. You can take it several times a day.

Modern science has confirmed the beneficial properties of oregano as a cough suppressant and expectorant. This is due to the presence of volatile oils, which have a high content of two chemicals associated with expectorant effects: carvacrol and thymol.

Last curiosity, the generic name origanum means the joy of the mountains or the grass that makes the mountains happy, and comes from the classical Greek origanon, from the words oros (mountain) and ganos (beautiful, bright, ornamental, joy).

Regarding ingestion or dosage, it is recommended to always consult your doctor. Used in adequate doses, oregano has few contraindications, however, allergy sufferers should be careful. It is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation and in children under twelve years of age.

I hope with this information you can learn more about Cuban oregano and its characteristics.

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