Content
Many people believe that oregano and basil are the same thing. And there are no differences between them. However, these are completely different spice cultures. They are used in the same areas. But basil and oregano have different properties. To understand the difference between them, it is necessary to study the characteristics of each culture separately.
Green crops differ in many ways, despite their external similarities
Oregano: is it basil or not?
The aromatic spicy herb oregano (Origanum vulgare) is also common under the names oregano, motherwort, and incense. It is a perennial herb, unlike basil. Also, cultures have similarities in appearance and smell, but it seems so only at first glance. In fact, they are much more different.
What is the difference between basil and oregano
Spicy herbs vary according to their place of growth, features of use, beneficial properties, taste and aroma. There are also differences in the appearance of plants. Only by studying the characteristics of each culture can you understand how different they are.
Place of growth
Basil is an annual heat-loving plant. South Asia is considered its homeland.In nature, the culture is found in the subtropics and tropics of Africa, America, and Asia. Cultivated in different countries of the world. Prefers sunny open areas, well lit throughout the day and protected from cold gusts of wind. The plant is intolerant of even minor frosts and dies immediately.
Oregano or oregano, unlike basil, is common in Europe and the Mediterranean countries. This culture grows everywhere in Russia, except in the Far North. You can find oregano on forest edges, clearings, hillsides, meadows and among shrubs. Oregano is cultivated in France and the USA. The plant is undemanding in terms of soil composition, unlike basil, and care.
Appearance
Basil is a bushy herbaceous plant with erect tetrahedral shoots. Its height reaches 50-70 cm. Basil leaves are obovate in shape with a glossy surface, unlike oregano. The edges of the plates are serrated. The shoots and leaves are densely covered with short pubescence. The flowers are two-lipped. They can have a white, pink, purple tint.
The buds appear at the tips of the shoots in the axils of the leaves. They are collected in irregular whorls, forming an interrupted spike or raceme, unlike oregano, which has corymbose inflorescences. Basil fruits are nuts with a smooth surface.
Oregano is a herbaceous crop, the length of its tetrahedral shoots varies between 30-90 cm. The leaves are petiolate, obovate in shape, but, unlike basil, their edges are entire. The length of the plates reaches 4 cm.Moreover, the higher the shoots are at the top, the smaller they are. The leaves are dark green on top, and on the reverse side they have a grayish tint, as they are covered with a short edge.
Oregano, unlike basil, blooms in the second year after planting. The buds have a soft purple hue. They are collected in corymbose inflorescences that appear on the tips of the shoots. Oregano fruits consist of four nuts with a diameter of about 0.5 mm. They begin to ripen in late summer.
The flowering period for oregano begins in July and lasts until September, and for basil - from the beginning of August and throughout the month
Aroma and taste
Cultures differ in aroma and taste. Oregano has a smell similar to thyme, just as fragrant and bitter-spicy, for which the culture received its second name. And the taste is sharp, with notes of citrus.
Basil, unlike oregano, comes in moderation. Its spicy taste combines bitter and sweet notes. The smell may vary depending on the type. It can be lemon, anise, caramel-vanilla, clove or pepper.
Application
Oregano is used in cooking. However, it is recommended to use this seasoning carefully and in doses, as it can dominate the dish. In Italy it is added to pizza. In other countries they are used in pickles, meat and mushroom dishes, livers, and homemade sausages.
Oregano has medicinal properties. The culture is widely used in traditional and folk medicine. Oregano is also used in beekeeping. She is an excellent honey plant. The culture is characterized by high nectar productivity. This allows you to collect 30 kg of honey from one bee colony. Dried grass can be used to fight ants and wax moths.
Oregano, unlike basil, is also used in perfumery. The essential oil of the plant is used to flavor toilet soap, toothpaste, lipsticks, and colognes. And oregano flowers are used to dye wool, which makes it possible to obtain an orange-red hue. The plant is also widely used in cosmetology. It is added to anti-cellulite creams, masks for rejuvenating and tightening facial skin, antiseptics, scrubs, and hair rinses.
Oregano is also suitable for brewing tea
Basil, like oregano, is used in cooking. It is the main spice of the national cuisines of Central Asia and Transcaucasia, where it is called regan, reikhan.
This seasoning is added to:
- sauces;
- homemade sausages;
- canned vegetables;
- pickles;
- salads;
- meat dishes.
Reyhan, like oregano, has medicinal properties. The plant is used for diseases of the digestive organs, colds, whooping cough, bronchial asthma, headaches, and neuroses.
Basil is most often used together with other aromatic herbs.
Chemical composition
There are also differences between cultures in the chemical composition. This determines their scope of application.
Oregano contains:
- ascorbic acid;
- tannins;
- essential oils (mainly forest mint);
- vitamins PP, K, A, group B;
- complex of mineral components.
Basil includes sugars, fiber, and phytoncides. The plant is also rich in ascorbic acid, as well as vitamins B2, PP, C, A. Most of all the essential oils that make up basil are camphor.
Benefits and harms
Both plants can bring benefits and harm to human health. But even here there are differences between them. Basil helps speed up metabolic processes and burn fat, improves appetite. It has a beneficial effect on the respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems. Basil has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, excessive consumption of this herb can cause allergies.
Basil should not be used for:
- ischemic disease;
- myocardial infarction;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hypertension;
- thrombophlebitis.
Due to its rich chemical composition, oregano is used as an anti-inflammatory and expectorant. The plant is used in the treatment of insomnia and nervous disorders. Baths based on oregano are recommended for scrofula and rashes. In folk medicine, oregano is used to treat rheumatism, epilepsy, and paralysis.
However, oregano can harm human health due to ulcers, colitis, and high blood pressure.
Similarities between basil and oregano
There are some similarities between these two cultures that cause confusion. After all, these plants belong to the same family Lamiaceae. They prefer open sunny areas and do not grow well in the shade. Oregano and basil do not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. High humidity causes growth inhibition and fungal diseases.
Both plants are herbaceous and are widely used in cooking and medicine. Their height is approximately the same if conditions are favorable.
Conclusion
Oregano and basil - both plants are valued for their taste, healing properties, unique aroma and rich chemical composition.But when using, you need to know the differences between them, since they are used in different ways. Otherwise, these herbs can harm human health.
