Editing Thyme (section)

== Culinary use ==
[[File:Seombaengnihyang-cha.jpg|thumb|''Seombaengnihyang-cha'' ([[Thymus japonicus|Ulleungdo thyme]] tea)]]
In some [[Levant]]ine countries, the condiment ''[[za'atar]]'' ([[Arabic]] for both thyme and [[marjoram]]) contains many of the essential oils found in thyme.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-08 |title=Explaining Zaatar! |url=https://www.dimasharif.com/zaatar/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Dima Al Sharif |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625005533/https://www.dimasharif.com/zaatar/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Thyme is a common component of the ''[[bouquet garni]]'', and of ''[[herbes de Provence]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Paul |date=2 September 2021 |title=What Is a Bouquet Garni? Easy Homemade Bouquet Garni Recipe, Plus Tips for Cooking With Bouquet Garni - 2022 - MasterClass |url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-bouquet-garni-easy-homemade-bouquet-garni-recipe-plus-tips-for-cooking-with-bouquet-garni |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Masterclass |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602121138/https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-bouquet-garni-easy-homemade-bouquet-garni-recipe-plus-tips-for-cooking-with-bouquet-garni |url-status=live }}</ref>

Thyme is sold both fresh and dried. While summer-seasonal, fresh greenhouse thyme is often available year-round. The fresh form is more flavourful but also less convenient; storage life is rarely more than a week. However, the fresh form can last many months if carefully frozen,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/18499 |title=Food Storage - How Long Can You Keep Thyme |access-date=2015-08-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809154830/http://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/18499 |archive-date=2015-08-09 }}</ref> and thyme retains its flavour on drying better than many other herbs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=7 Herbs That Taste Good When Dried |url=https://www.thespruce.com/top-herbs-that-you-should-dry-4144964 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=The Spruce |language=en |archive-date=2022-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519111909/https://www.thespruce.com/top-herbs-that-you-should-dry-4144964 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Fresh thyme is commonly sold in bunches of sprigs. A sprig is a single stem snipped from the plant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thyme |url=https://www.almanac.com/plant/thyme |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Almanac.com |language=en |archive-date=2020-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929071828/https://www.almanac.com/plant/thyme |url-status=live }}</ref> It is composed of a woody stem with paired leaf or flower clusters ("leaves") spaced {{convert|1/2|to|1|in|mm|round=5|order=flip|abbr=off}} apart. A recipe may measure thyme by the bunch (or fraction thereof), or by the sprig, or by the tablespoon or teaspoon. Dried thyme is widely used in Armenia in [[tisane]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TeaWay Armenian Tea History |url=https://teaway.net/s/armenian-tea-history-66 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710221909/https://teaway.net/s/armenian-tea-history-66 |archive-date=2024-07-10 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=TeaWay |language=en}}</ref>

Depending on how it is used in a dish, the whole sprig may be used, or the leaves removed and the stems discarded. Usually, when a recipe mentions a bunch or sprig, it means the whole form; when it mentions spoons, it means the leaves. It is perfectly acceptable to substitute dried for whole thyme. Leaves may be removed from stems either by scraping with the back of a knife, or by pulling through the fingers or tines of a fork.

In Moroccan tradition, dried figs<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noramine |first=Khalil |title=Medicinal and Edible Plants of Morocco |date=September 16, 2023 |publisher= Independently published |isbn=979-8860829343 |pages=31–32}}</ref> are elevated with the infusion of minty leaves. After softening in a couscous pot, the figs are rested with additional minty leaves before being sprinkled with thyme for a delightful flavor enhancement and preservation in sealed containers.