Questions and answers

Twelve questions people most often ask about wild thyme.

What is the difference between wild thyme and garden thyme?

They are two related species in the mint family. Wild thyme is a creeping plant up to about 30 cm with flat leaf margins, one main root and a milder scent. Garden thyme is an upright subshrub 15–30 cm tall with inrolled leaf margins, fibrous roots and a sharper, more spicy scent.

Is wild thyme the same plant as garden thyme?

No. They are related but they are different species. Garden thyme does not grow wild in Slovakia — it is a cultivated plant.

What is wild thyme used for?

It is a dried herb and it is used in two ways: as a tea — one teaspoon per 250 ml of water, steeped for 10–15 minutes with the cup covered — and in the kitchen as a spice, much like garden thyme. It suits meat, fish, vegetable dishes and sauces; the flavour is milder and less sharp than garden thyme, slightly bitter. The plant has a long history in the folk medicine of the Carpathian region. Our product is 100 % dried wild thyme herb and we sell it as a food, so we make no medicinal claims.

How do I make the tea?

About one teaspoon (1–2 g) of dried herb per 250 ml of hot water, steeped for 10–15 minutes with the cup covered. Covering keeps the essential oil from escaping with the steam. Always brew it fresh.

When and how is wild thyme picked?

At full flowering, from May to September, in dry weather after the dew has dried. Only the soft flowering tops are taken, with scissors, so the plant stays rooted.

How do I dry it without losing the scent?

In the shade, with air moving through, in thin layers or small bunches, below 35 °C. Direct sun and higher heat mean a loss of essential oil, which is the scent.

Can pregnant or breastfeeding women, or children, drink it?

Targeted safety studies for this species are missing, so in pregnancy and while breastfeeding we recommend asking a doctor first. We do not recommend it for children under three, given the essential oil content. This is caution arising from missing data, not from a finding of risk.

How do I tell wild thyme from oregano?

By height. Oregano has similar pink-violet flowers but grows 20–70 cm tall, whereas wild thyme creeps along the ground and does not exceed about 30 cm.

Where does it grow in Slovakia?

On sunny, dry, well-drained sites, often sandy or stony. In the north-east these are the dry meadows and pastures on the flysch slopes of the Laborecká Highlands.

Can it be grown in a garden or rockery?

The research these pages are based on does not cover garden cultivation, so we cannot answer without making things up. All we can say is what kind of site the plant likes in the wild: sunny, dry and well-drained.

Is it protected? May it be picked in the wild?

Thymus serpyllum is not a protected species. Under the second level of protection, which applies across the East Carpathians Protected Landscape Area, herbs may be collected and no consent from the nature protection authority is needed. In the small reserves under levels three to five, collecting plants is forbidden. On land belonging to others, and on forest land, the owner's or manager's consent is required.

How long does dried wild thyme keep?

Store it in a well-sealed container, dry, away from light, below 25 °C. The best-before date is on the packet. Herb that has lost its scent and colour is old — that is a sign of reduced quality.