ZATAR and Is there more than one kind of Tyme

[Netter]

Does anyone grow the spice Lebanese call zataar?

What is it.

I understand there is more than one variety of thyme.

Can you list then and maybe describe them?

What type is sold as a spice?

Thanks in advance for any info

[George Shirley]

Zatar is not just one spice but a mixture of several herbs, etc. There are at least three varieties of thyme that I know of and probably more. One ingredient of zatar is sumac. I would look it up on the web and you should be able to find the proper mix and/or a place to buy it. Most Middle Eastern stores or deli's carry the stuff.

George

Netter wrote:

[rossr35253]

" Netter" wrote:

It's a blend of various herbs. Here's one recipe, courtesy of

Mix

1 cup sumac 2 cups roasted, ground sesame seeds 1/2 cup dried ground thyme 2 tablespoons dried leaf oregano 2 tablespoons dried leaf marjoram 2 tablespoons dried leaf savory 1 tablespoon salt, or to taste (optional)

Mix all the ingredients together except the salt (some sumac is salty; also, you may not want the salt for some zaatar uses). Taste carefully and add the salt if desired. Keep the zaatar mix in a tightly closed jar (the sesame seeds will last 6 months maximum); it will stay fresher in the refrigerator or freezer than at room temperature.

Makes about 4 cups.

Courtesy of

of ORNAMENTAL and OTHER THYMES Annie Hall (T. praecox arcticus 'A.H.') Archer's Gold (T. sp. 'A.G.') Bressingham Pink (T. Doerfleri 'B.P.') Caespititus "Tufted Thyme" (T. caespititus) Camphor Thyme (T. camphoratus) - tender perennial Carnosa (T. carnosus) - tender perennial Coconut (T. praecox ssp) Conehead (Coriothymus capitatus) Creeping, 'Clear Gold' (T. sp. 'C.G.') Creeping 'Dot Wells' (T. pulegoides 'D.W.') Creeping Golden Variegated (T. praec. arct. 'Mayfair') Creeping PInk (T. sp) Creeping Red (T. puleg. 'Kermesinus') Creeping Red, Narrow-Leaf (T. praec. arct. 'Coccineus') Creeping White (T. praec. arct. 'Alba') Creeping White Moss (T. praec. arct. 'W.M.') Creeping Woolly (T. sp) Doone Valley (T. 'D.V.') Dr. Blackburn (T. sp) Drucei (T. praec. arct.) Emerald Cushion (T. praec. arct. 'E.C.') Epiroticus (T. sp) Erectus (T. sp) Lanicaulis (T. thracicus) Lavender (T. thracius) - potpourri and sachet Lemon Frost (T. sp x 'L.F.') Loevyanus (T. 'Long-leaf Gray') Longwood (T. 'Longwood') Marchallii (T. pannonicus) Marshallianus (T. 'Linear-leaf Lilac') Micans (T. caespititus 'Tuffet') Minus (T. minus) Moonlight (T. leucotrichus 'M') Nummularius (T. sp) Orange Balsam (T. vulg. 'O.B.') - potpourri and sachets; fruit salads Pinewood (T. 'P.') Pink Chintz (T. praec. arct. 'P.C.') Pulegioides (T. puleg.) Russian (T. sp) Serpentine Citriodorum (Thymus sp) Serp. Nutmeg (T. praecox Arct. sp) Serp. Rosea (T. praec. arct. sp) Silver (T. 'Argenteus') Silver Needles (T. cherleriodes 'S.N.') Silver, Hi-Ho (T. sp) White Magic (T. puleg. 'W.M.') Woolly (T. praec. arct. lanuginosus) Woolly, Hall's (T. praec. arct. 'H.'s W') Woolly-Stemmed Early (T. sp) WoollyStemmed Sharp (T. 'W.-s S.') Woolly-Stemmed Sweet (T. 'W.-s S')

From the same source:

VARIETIES of CULINARY THYME Alba (T. sp. 'Alba') Caraway (T. Herba-barona) Caraway, Lemon (T. Herba-barona citriodorus) E.B. Anderson (T. citriodorus 'E.B.A.') English (T. 'Broad-leaf English') English, Variegated (T. 'Variegated English') English Wedgewood (T. 'Wedgewood English') French (T. vulg. 'Narrow-leaf French') German French (T. v. sp. 'Tall German') German Winter (T. vulg. sp 'N.-L. F') Greek (T. v. sp 'N.-L.F.') Green, Compact (T. vulg. 'Dottie Jacobsen') Grey Hill (T. vulg. 'Grey Hill') Japanese (T. quinquecostatus ibukiensis 'Alba') Lemon (T. x citriodorus) Lemon, Golden (T. x citriodorus 'Aureus') Lemon, Silver (T. x citriodorus 'Argenteus') Lemon, Silver-Edged (T. x. citrod. 'Argenteus' sp) Lime (T. x citriod. sp) Miniature (Thymus sp) Miniature, English, Narrow-Leaf (Thymus sp) Mother of Thyme (T. pulegioides) Nutmeg (T. herba-barona) Oregano (T. puleg. 'O-scented') Pennsylvania Dutch Tea (T. pulegioides ssp) Porlock (T. 'Porlock') Provencal, Narrow-Leaf (T. vulg. ssp) Rosa's Delight (T. vulg. ssp)

Probably more than you needed or wanted ;-).

Ross To email, remove the "obvious" from my address.

[David Hare-Scott]

[Netter]

Thanks to all three of you. Great answers