Tuscany to flavor pork, mushroom, and
artichoke dishes. “Korean mint” comes from
an anise-flavored Asian member of the mint
family, Agastache rugosa.
Oregano There are about 40 species in the
Mediterranean genus Origanum, most of them
low, shrubby inhabitants of rocky places. The
name comes from the Greek for “joy (or
ornament) of the mountains,” though we have
no evidence about how the Greeks enjoyed it.
Oregano was little known in the United States
until the rise of the pizza after World War II.
Oregano species easily form hybrids with
each other, so it’s not easy to sort out
identities. The important thing for the cook is
that they come in a range of flavors, from
mild to strong and penetrating. The
penetrating quality comes from the phenolic
compound carvacrol. Greek oreganos are
typically rich in carvacrol, while milder
Italian, Turkish, and Spanish oreganos contain