6 Best Thyme for Cooking: FLAVORFUL Cooking

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This review aims to give you a definitive guide to some of the best thyme for cooking.

Looks can be deceiving. The small delicate leaves of thyme do not look like they have a lot of flavors. However, they have a lot of deliciousness that you cannot find anywhere else. Thyme leaves are unique cooking ingredients famous worldwide.

They also have potent antiseptic qualities, due to which thyme is popular in the medicinal community. Most people do not understand the taste of thyme.

People have used it in several cuisines, like the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, North African, and European. This herb is also popular in North America.

Unfortunately, there is some low-quality thyme in the market novice shapes would not understand the difference between the two.

This article is here to help you. We have mentioned six best thyme for cooking.

Best Thyme for Cooking

1. Eat Well Premium Foods – Thyme (Best Turkish Thyme)
2. McCormick Culinary Thyme Leaves (Best Versatile Thyme)
3. Simply Organic Thyme Leaf Whole Certified Organic (Best Kosher Thyme)
4. The Spice Hunter Thyme, Organic (Best Organic Thyme)
5. The Spice Way Thyme Leaves (Best Hand-Picked And Sun-Dried Thyme)
6. Litehouse Freeze-Dried Thyme (Best Mild-Sweet Thyme)

1. Eat Well Premium Foods – Thyme (Best Turkish Thyme)

This bottle of thyme is full of 100% natural goodness for your recipes. It has 9 ounces of high-quality thyme suitable for Mediterranean dishes.

The fragrant, all-natural thyme leave comes from the beautiful farms of Turkey. 

This aromatic blend of thyme leaves does not have any stems or dirt, and it has a different flavor than French thyme due to its location.

These thyme leaves have a faint, pine-like fragrance. The taste is sharp and upfront, with an almost citrus-like savory undertone.

This flavorful and fresh thyme is an excellent addition to your dishes. You can add it to your olive oil and garlic butter for bread, roasted chicken or turkey, and potatoes.

This product is fresh, high-quality, and filled tightly to the brim with the best thyme you will ever see! Every leaf delivers customers the best flavor.

2. McCormick Culinary Thyme Leaves – (Best Versatile Thyme)

The McCormick Culinary Thyme Leaves have a distinctive taste and aroma. They have enriching earthy notes of lemon and mint that add a kick to your recipes.

Manufacturers have made this product, especially for chefs. It is why these thyme leaves are premium-quality full of flavor and versatility. They are an excellent addition to the kitchen.

This product has 6 ounces of delicious thyme seasoning to ring flavor to all your unique dishes.

It elevates the taste of all vegetables, seafood, meats, and marinades. You can easily create new recipes using this herb because it has a consistent and pure flavor.

This product is kosher with no added MSG.

These dried thyme leaves come from France, Spain, and Morocco. The herb thrives in these sunny climates, so you get the best products.

Manufacturers use leaves from the healthiest plants in their prime to provide the best flavor. Harvesting these leaves in their best stages adds visual beauty wherever you sprinkle them. 

Each 6-ounce container helps you bring a unique flavor to commercial kitchens. These thyme leaves are suitable for meat, poultry, and seafood recipes, and they can also introduce a dash of flavor in soups, stews, and sides like mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.

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3. Simply Organic Thyme Leaf Whole Certified Organic – (Best Kosher Thyme)

Thyme leaves are a much-needed ingredient in most savory dishes. These 0.78 ounces of delicious thyme leaves can elevate the taste of any recipe, and they have a subtle flavor that adds freshness to the food.

These thyme leaves are versatile, due to which they can blend their flavors with other herbs.

They come in a sleek glass bottle that looks better than plastic containers. It enables you to check the number of thyme leaves at first glance.

A glass bottle of thyme leaves also looks good on the kitchen counter. The glass jar keeps your thyme leaves fresh for a long time, preserving their flavor and aroma. The screw-top design of this bottle prevents the leaves from going stale. 

These thyme leaves are extra-fancy because they are organic, and they give your recipes a classic French-style twist.

You can use these 100% organic thyme leaves to elevate the taste of soups and sauces. You can also mix it with other herbs to make unique spice blends with a personal touch.

These thyme leaves are Kosher, and their sales help support organic farming.

4. The Spice Hunter Thyme, Organic – (Best Organic Thyme)

These Thyme leaves come in a professionally sealed container. You will get a dash of aroma the moment you open this container. You can use these leaves in any quantity in your dishes. 

The unique quality of these thyme leaves is they are 100% organic and Kosher certified. It means they reach you in an unadulterated form.

The purity of the manufacturing process protects these leaves from losing flavor over time. Every little leaf in this container delivers a dash of flavor and aroma, and they have a sharp taste and an evident fragrance. 

Thyme is an essential ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine, and other cuisines use it to enhance the flavor of savory classics.

This container of high-quality thyme improves the taste of stews, sauces, meat, seafood, potatoes, vegetables, grains, and poultry.

There is a world of flavor packed in these thyme leaves. They can provide some much-needed flavor to your recipes without overpowering them. 

5. The Spice Way Thyme Leaves – (Best Hand-Picked And Sun-Dried Thyme)

This bottle has a bunch of the tastiest multipurpose herbs. You can use them to improve several dishes with a base of poultry, vegetables, meat. You can also combine these thyme leaves with other herbal seasonings, and they can give you a personal spice blend. 

The best part about these thyme leaves is that they are pure and of premium quality. They do not have any preservatives, due to which they have retained their taste.

These high-quality herbs do not have additives, and it ensures that you get the best, unadulterated thyme flavor.

The container of thyme leaves also does not have fillers. This packet of thyme is a non-GMO product. These herbs can open you to a new world of flavors and aromas. 

Thyme is a significant ingredient in several authentic recipes from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and America.

Every culture in the world uses thyme in their cuisine; however, this herb’s most significant presence is in Mediterranean cuisine. 

These thyme leaves come in a resealable bag, making them easy to sprinkle and close.

The manufacturers of this product have 30 years of experience in growing spices, herbs, and peppers.

They have retained using traditional methods like hand-picking and sun-drying to preserve the flavor of their products.

You can enhance the taste and aroma of any recipe using these premium thyme leaves.

6. Litehouse Freeze-Dried Thyme – (Best Mild-Sweet Thyme)

You will get five fresh, high-quality bunches of thyme in this container. They are all non-GMO and gluten-free products, making them perfect for health-conscious people.

Always switch one tablespoon of our freeze-dried thyme for one tablespoon of fresh ones. This proportion will help you replicate the taste and aroma of fresh thyme in your dishes.

This freeze-dried thyme is a popular spice in several cuisines. However, the Mediterranean dishes bring out the best flavors of thyme leaves. You can mix thyme leaves with other herbs to create a unique spice mix.

Litehouse herbs are famous for their high-quality crops. You get only the best thyme leaves in this packet.

Manufacturers have carefully selected the best leaves and dried them using tried-and-tested methods, and they have ensured to maintain the taste of these thyme leaves.

You can never go wrong with this packet of excellent thyme leaves. 

These thyme leaves can elevate the taste of all dishes, from scrambled eggs to potato salad. You can also use them to season and marinate meat and vegetables, and they will leave a layer of delicious aroma that will make your food irresistible. 

These thyme leaves have a mildly sweet taste, and however, they are highly aromatic. They can add a dash of flavor to recipes with cheese, bread, or meat.

You can always count on a spoonful of thyme leaves to fix and elevate your recipe. These dried thyme leaves still retain the crisp quality of fresh leaves.

Things To Consider While Buying Thyme for Cooking

The most common variety of this herb is the French one. It explains why it is famous all around France. French cooks have used it in almost every dish. The French cuisine is incomplete without some thyme.

However, the market has several varieties of thyme. The most significant factor while purchasing it is the quality. Here are a few things you should consider while buying thyme from the supermarket:

Tip: Growing is better than buying

Thyme is a herb that tastes best while it’s fresh. Using freshly plucked thyme leaves can elevate the taste of any dish.

However, most people do not like to keep or maintain a plant. Fresh thyme has a strong aroma and a strong flavor that makes any dish look and taste delicious. Even if you buy dried thyme, ensure that it is not old.

When people talk about using store-bought thyme in their dishes, they mean its dried variety. Dried thyme leaves are easy to store and use, and it is why they are more popular than fresh herbs. However, thyme becomes increasingly stale as it ages.

Dried thyme is cheaper than the fresh one. However, low-quality dried thyme can ruin the taste of any dish.

Storage

Look at the container of the dried thyme to ensure that it does not have any cracks or air bubbles.

The container must stay dry from inside to protect the thyme. The bottle should be airtight. If you see thyme in a container with a loose cap, do not buy it.

It is crucial to protect the herb from external elements and preserve its flavor.

Date

Always buy thyme if it is close to the packaging date. Even in an airtight container, thyme changes its taste with time.

It goes from pleasantly strong to disgustingly pungent in no time. Do not buy thyme if it is too old or has been in the container for several months.

Even if you buy the dried variety, always look for fresh new packages.

Cost

Most bottles of thyme will cost you less than $10. It is because thyme is a mass-produced herb essential for every cuisine. There are some expensive varieties of thyme. However, it is ideal to stay within a moderate price range.

The differences between different thyme varieties are subtle. It is also crucial to consider how often you will use thyme. Some people use this herb every day, due to which buying an expensive variety seems ideal. 

Lastly, you should also consider your preference for the taste of thyme. If you think it is an essential ingredient in your kitchen, go for the high-quality, expensive variety.

If you feel it does not have an exceptional taste or aroma, stick with a moderate price range. You can always find several high-quality thyme leaves at affordable prices. 

Appearance

Crisp and high-quality thyme looks vibrant and firm. If the branch has wilted, it is not fresh. Remember that the best varieties are better than dried ones.

Even if it is highly processed dried thyme, it should still retain a bright color. If it has lost color, it has changed the flavor.

Bright green and healthy thyme branches are the best for cooking any dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store Thyme effectively?

Storing thyme and other herbs is an easy task, even if you buy it in bulk. You can keep them fresh for a long time. If you have brought crisp thyme branches, wrap them in a damp paper towel and place them in the refrigerator.

They should remain fresh for a week. After a week, you can dry or dehydrate them and store them in an airtight container. Dried varieties last for about one year if you keep them in an airtight container in a dark place. If at any stage you begin to notice discoloration or wilting in the thyme branches, use it up throw it out. 

What are some benefits of thyme?

The green leaves of thyme have a lot of goodness packed in them. The main chemical in these leaves is Thymol. It carries powerful antiseptic properties making this herb perfect for medicinal uses. It can cure several infections and diseases like bronchitis, gingivitis, and hypertension.

People use thyme predominantly while cooking. Besides, they often use a small amount of this herb because it is full of flavor. 

Is it easy to plant and maintain thyme?

Homegrown thyme is better than store-bought varieties. It has a deep flavor and several health benefits. It is easy to grow thyme at home if you have the correct climate. Always plant thyme in well-drained soil.

Ensure to keep it in full sun by the window. Some varieties grow well in gravel gardens and cracks, and others need to remain in pots.

Some thyme varieties need to stay indoors during autumn. It is best to study the variety of thyme before planting it. 

Use well-drained, low-nutrient soil for thyme. Add some compost with plenty of grit. Water it once after planting, and leave it.

Thyme is a drought-loving plant that can thrive without water. However, ensure to shield it from rain and cold, humid winds. Cut the flowers to protect and promote healthy growth. 

What Does Thyme Taste Like? 

All thyme varieties have subtle differences in flavor. In general, thyme has a sharp, minty taste. The earthy and floral hints of thyme branches can elevate any recipe. It has the perfect combination of sweet and peppery notes. The subtle flavors of thyme blend easily with other herbs. It is why this herb is a must-have ingredient in any European kitchen. 

How can I incorporate thyme in my cooking process? 

Thyme has a subtle flavor that blends easily with other herbs like basil, chives, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, and parsley. Adding thyme to your dishes is an excellent way of introducing a new flavor without overpowering the dish.

Thyme is the perfect ingredient for baking, roasting, or braising chicken dishes. The flavors of chicken and thyme blend well together. 

Thyme also works well with other meats like beef, pork, and lamb. You can use thyme as a marinade, seasoning, dry rub, or stuffing. 

Conclusion

Thyme has a firm, wood branch, and delicate small leaves. People have used this herb in various cuisines for more than 5000 years. 

The botanical name of this excellent cooking ingredient is Thymus Vulgaris. The term comes from the Greek word Thymon, which means to fumigate. 

Thyme grows in the Provence region of France, and people assume that it has originated from the same area.

This herb has found its uses in the medicinal and culinary community. Today, people commonly use it in different dishes. This article mentioned six high-quality thyme herbs in the market.