Thread: Oregano

Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
thread when it's all said and done?

-sw

Sqwertz wrote:
>
> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
> thread when it's all said and done?
>
> -sw

You forgot to add a youtube link to your post, Steve.

G.

Julie Bove wrote:
> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>
> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought
> the Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it
> didn't taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it
> was different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern
> Italian" or something.
> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>
> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of
> it when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell
> if it is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another
> brand and compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it
> seems to have an off flavor. I thought at first that it was just
> stronger than usual. So I used less of it. But that didn't help.
> Gives an off flavor to my dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow
> and see if that is better.
> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years.
> And I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand
> loyal either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will
> usually get whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99
> cent stuff at the drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.

Sounds like you're using inconsistent sources for an important
ingredient and getting inconsistent results - perhaps settling on a
brand you like will solve that problem for you. Even if you find
several high quality sources, their differing tastes could result in
dishes you don't like - it's easy to consistently source this so why not
do just that? Oregano that's too _good_ - fresher, stronger flavor -
could ruin a dish, too.

We like Trader Joe's for powdered herbs/spices. They don't have a big
selection of herbs and spices but I'm pretty sure they do have oregano.
We now get our cinnamon, black pepper (in a grinder), garlic powder, and
a few others there.

-S-

"Julie Bove" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:k4tkh1$14p$[email protected]..
> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>
> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought the
> Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it didn't
> taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it was
> different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern Italian" or
> something.
>
> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>
> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of it
> when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell if it is
> a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another brand and
> compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it seems to have an
> off flavor. I thought at first that it was just stronger than usual. So I
> used less of it. But that didn't help. Gives an off flavor to my dish.
> I will buy another brand tomorrow and see if that is better.
>
> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And
> I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand loyal
> either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will usually get
> whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99 cent stuff at the
> drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.

There are two types of oregano, Mexican and Mediterrranean. Here
is a link to Penzey's explanation of the differences, which are large:
http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penze...ysoregano.html
Sounds as if you are accustomed to Mediterranean and just got
a couple of batches of Mexican.

pavane

On 10/8/12 3:19 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
> thread when it's all said and done?
>
> -sw
>

With the consensus that Julie Bove is a whack job with too much time on
her hands and too few brain cells?

On 08/10/2012 9:54 AM, Goomba wrote:
> On 10/8/12 3:19 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
>> thread when it's all said and done?
>>
>> -sw
>>
>
> With the consensus that Julie Bove is a whack job with too much time on
> her hands and too few brain cells?


True.


FWIW.... I buy my herbs in the Bulk Barn. I pay only a fraction the
price that I would if I bought it by the bottle in the grocery store.
For instance, a few years ago when I needed ground ginger, it was $3.99
fr a bottle in the grocery store. I kept my old bottle and filled it
with the stuff I got in bulk for less than 20 cents. One gorcery store
sells herbs in bulk. I enough marjoram to fill the old bottle and it was
so light it did not register on checkout scale so the cashier didn't
charge me for it.

If the herbs ans spices get old and lose their flavour I throw them out
and get new. It is much cheaper than buy them by the bottle.

"Steve Freides" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:k4uj6m$qd9$[email protected]..
> Julie Bove wrote:
>> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>>
>> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought
>> the Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it
>> didn't taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it
>> was different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern
>> Italian" or something.
>> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>>
>> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of
>> it when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell
>> if it is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another
>> brand and compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it
>> seems to have an off flavor. I thought at first that it was just
>> stronger than usual. So I used less of it. But that didn't help. Gives
>> an off flavor to my dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow
>> and see if that is better.
>> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And
>> I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand
>> loyal either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will
>> usually get whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99
>> cent stuff at the drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.
>
> Sounds like you're using inconsistent sources for an important ingredient
> and getting inconsistent results - perhaps settling on a brand you like
> will solve that problem for you. Even if you find several high quality
> sources, their differing tastes could result in dishes you don't like -
> it's easy to consistently source this so why not do just that? Oregano
> that's too _good_ - fresher, stronger flavor - could ruin a dish, too.
>
> We like Trader Joe's for powdered herbs/spices. They don't have a big
> selection of herbs and spices but I'm pretty sure they do have oregano. We
> now get our cinnamon, black pepper (in a grinder), garlic powder, and a
> few others there.
>
> -S-

That could be. Thing is, I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it
externally. I don't know if dried oregano would have the same scent but
this certainly does not. Maybe I should always buy the same one. I don't
get to TJ's too often. It's not close to where I live and I hate waiting in
the long lines there.

"pavane" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:2kAcs.728183$[email protected]..
>
> "Julie Bove" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:k4tkh1$14p$[email protected]..
>> Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>>
>> The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought the
>> Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it didn't
>> taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it was
>> different than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern Italian" or
>> something.
>>
>> I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>>
>> And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of it
>> when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell if it
>> is a different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another brand and
>> compare them. And there isn't the must smell. But it seems to have an
>> off flavor. I thought at first that it was just stronger than usual. So
>> I used less of it. But that didn't help. Gives an off flavor to my
>> dish. I will buy another brand tomorrow and see if that is better.
>>
>> Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And
>> I used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand loyal
>> either. If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will usually get
>> whatever the cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99 cent stuff at the
>> drugstore, but usually it's McCormick or Schilling.
>
> There are two types of oregano, Mexican and Mediterrranean. Here
> is a link to Penzey's explanation of the differences, which are large:
> http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penze...ysoregano.html
> Sounds as if you are accustomed to Mediterranean and just got
> a couple of batches of Mexican.
>
> pavane

Thanks! After reading more about it last night, I was thinking that may be
what I got. The bottle just says that it was grown in Turkey.

"Dave Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news3Bcs.23818$[email protected]..
> On 08/10/2012 9:54 AM, Goomba wrote:
>> On 10/8/12 3:19 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> Anybody want to place bets on how many posts will end up in this
>>> thread when it's all said and done?
>>>
>>> -sw
>>>
>>
>> With the consensus that Julie Bove is a whack job with too much time on
>> her hands and too few brain cells?
>
>
> True.
>
>
> FWIW.... I buy my herbs in the Bulk Barn. I pay only a fraction the price
> that I would if I bought it by the bottle in the grocery store. For
> instance, a few years ago when I needed ground ginger, it was $3.99 fr a
> bottle in the grocery store. I kept my old bottle and filled it with the
> stuff I got in bulk for less than 20 cents. One gorcery store sells herbs
> in bulk. I enough marjoram to fill the old bottle and it was so light it
> did not register on checkout scale so the cashier didn't charge me for it.
>
> If the herbs ans spices get old and lose their flavour I throw them out
> and get new. It is much cheaper than buy them by the bottle.

There are places here that sell bulk but I am always leery to buy. I would
have no qualms currently with buying from Whole Foods although I am not sure
if they have bulk spices. But they are a new store so chances are that
their product would be fresh. But at the other stores I have tried buying
nuts, seeds, beans and popcorn and they weren't always fresh. So I would be
afraid that the spices wouldn't be fresh either.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it externally.

Now you're just getting kinky, Julie.

G.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> "pavane" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > There are two types of oregano, Mexican and Mediterrranean. Here
> > is a link to Penzey's explanation of the differences, which are large:
> > http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penze...ysoregano.html
> > Sounds as if you are accustomed to Mediterranean and just got
> > a couple of batches of Mexican.
> >
> > pavane
>
> Thanks! After reading more about it last night, I was thinking that may be
> what I got. The bottle just says that it was grown in Turkey.

So.....Ham, this Thanksgiving?

G.

"Gary" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
> Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>> I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it externally.
>
> Now you're just getting kinky, Julie.

Actually, I once had a Dr. smell my foot. I told him not to be alarmed at
the color of my toenail because I had put the oil of oregano there, thinking
that I had a toenail fungus. After the fact I believe that wasn't what it
was at all but psoriasis of the nail. The two can look very similar. At
least that's all gone now! The Dr. said it did smell good. Ha! That was
probably the freakiest thing that happened at the Dr.

Julie Bove wrote:
>
> "Gary" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
> > Julie Bove wrote:
> >>
> >> I take oil of oregano daily and have applied it externally.
> >
> > Now you're just getting kinky, Julie.
>
> Actually, I once had a Dr. smell my foot. I told him not to be alarmed at
> the color of my toenail because I had put the oil of oregano there, thinking
> that I had a toenail fungus. After the fact I believe that wasn't what it
> was at all but psoriasis of the nail. The two can look very similar. At
> least that's all gone now! The Dr. said it did smell good. Ha! That was
> probably the freakiest thing that happened at the Dr.

UNSUBSCRIBE!

On 08/10/2012 10:12 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
bulk. I enough marjoram to fill the old bottle and it was so light it
>> did not register on checkout scale so the cashier didn't charge me for it.
>>
>> If the herbs ans spices get old and lose their flavour I throw them out
>> and get new. It is much cheaper than buy them by the bottle.
>
> There are places here that sell bulk but I am always leery to buy. I would
> have no qualms currently with buying from Whole Foods although I am not sure
> if they have bulk spices. But they are a new store so chances are that
> their product would be fresh. But at the other stores I have tried buying
> nuts, seeds, beans and popcorn and they weren't always fresh. So I would be
> afraid that the spices wouldn't be fresh either.
>
>
\



I would bet that in most kitchens there are herbs and spices that have
been there for years. I know that there are in mine. There are some
things that I use frequently, like oregano, black pepper, marjoram,
curry powder. Then there is stuff like allspice and cloves that have
been in there for decades. For most people the freshness in pretty
much a non issue. You will have a hard time convincing me that a less
than fresh spice in a bulk store is going to be any worse for wear when
you finally use it five years later. And FWIW.. oregano is usually used
dried, rarely fresh.

On Sun, 7 Oct 2012 21:24:54 -0700, "Julie Bove"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Has anyone ever bought dried oregano that smelled or tasted off?
>
>The first time I noticed this, I wasn't sure what it was. I bought the
>Italian seasoning from Costco. It had a musty odor to it and it didn't
>taste good to us. I think it was a Mccormick seasoning but it was different
>than what I usually buy. I think it said "Northern Italian" or something.
>
>I just assumed that we didn't like it and I threw it out.
>
>And now I have some Archer Farms oregano. I notice that the aroma of it
>when I open the bottle is very strong/sharp. I can't really tell if it is a
>different aroma than usual. I will have to buy another brand and compare
>them. And there isn't the must smell. But it seems to have an off flavor.
>I thought at first that it was just stronger than usual. So I used less of
>it. But that didn't help. Gives an off flavor to my dish. I will buy
>another brand tomorrow and see if that is better.
>
>Oregano is one of the herbs/spices that I have been using for years. And I
>used to put a ton of it in my red pasta sauce. I am not brand loyal either.
>If I need it, I will buy it wherever I am and will usually get whatever the
>cheapest stuff is. That could be the 99 cent stuff at the drugstore, but
>usually it's McCormick or Schilling.
>

This company sells 13 different kinds of oregano, all somewhat
different. I am growing 3 right now.

http://pantrygardenherbs.com/?page_id=1012
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

On Mon, 8 Oct 2012 07:18:37 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:

> Actually, I once had a Dr. smell my foot. I told him not to be alarmed at
> the color of my toenail because I had put the oil of oregano there, thinking
> that I had a toenail fungus. After the fact I believe that wasn't what it
> was at all but psoriasis of the nail. The two can look very similar. At
> least that's all gone now! The Dr. said it did smell good. Ha! That was
> probably the freakiest thing that happened at the Dr.

You've had freaky doctors before, I guarantee it. Or at least people
posing as doctors.

-sw

On Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:41:54 -0400, Dave Smith
<[email protected]> wrote:
snip
>I would bet that in most kitchens there are herbs and spices that have
>been there for years.
Nope. Everything is dated. One-year turn around for most, 2 year
maximum. Exceptions are whole cloves, whole cinnamon and whole nutmeg
-- those I will keep longer.

snip
You will have a hard time convincing me that a less
>than fresh spice in a bulk store is going to be any worse for wear when
>you finally use it five years later. And FWIW.. oregano is usually used
>dried, rarely fresh.
>
>
Have you ever watched the turnover in the bulk section? In my Winco,
there are 2 times of the day that you will darn near be run over by
staff refilling all the bulk stuff -- including herbs and spices. At
other times it is difficult to elbow space enough at the bins to get
what you want. Maybe in your stores, but not in mine.
Janet US

"Janet Bostwick" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> On Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:41:54 -0400, Dave Smith
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> snip
>>I would bet that in most kitchens there are herbs and spices that have
>>been there for years.
> Nope. Everything is dated. One-year turn around for most, 2 year
> maximum. Exceptions are whole cloves, whole cinnamon and whole nutmeg
> -- those I will keep longer.
>
> snip
> You will have a hard time convincing me that a less
>>than fresh spice in a bulk store is going to be any worse for wear when
>>you finally use it five years later. And FWIW.. oregano is usually used
>>dried, rarely fresh.
>>
>>
> Have you ever watched the turnover in the bulk section? In my Winco,
> there are 2 times of the day that you will darn near be run over by
> staff refilling all the bulk stuff -- including herbs and spices. At
> other times it is difficult to elbow space enough at the bins to get
> what you want. Maybe in your stores, but not in mine.
> Janet US

I don't know about the spices but so far what I have bought in bulk there
has been very fresh. This has not been the case in other stores.

On 08/10/2012 1:31 PM, Janet Bostwick wrote:
snip
> You will have a hard time convincing me that a less
>> than fresh spice in a bulk store is going to be any worse for wear when
>> you finally use it five years later. And FWIW.. oregano is usually used
>> dried, rarely fresh.
>>
>>
> Have you ever watched the turnover in the bulk section? In my Winco,
> there are 2 times of the day that you will darn near be run over by
> staff refilling all the bulk stuff -- including herbs and spices. At
> other times it is difficult to elbow space enough at the bins to get
> what you want. Maybe in your stores, but not in mine.

I don't think the stuff in bulk stores is stale. That has been
suggested here before.... left out in sunlight for long periods yada
yada. I don't usually get bulk stuff at the grocery store. I go to the
Bulk Barn, which sells almost everything bulk... in two ways.... You
can get just about anything in bulk; cereals, grains, flours, sugars,
dried fruits, snack foods, coffee, tea, spices herbs, cake sprinkles,
peanut butter, dog biscuits...... They also carry some packaged products.

They are constantly refilling the bins.



Curious thing about Bulk Barn customers. There are a lot of great deals
on baking supplies and many other things. A fair percentage of the
customers are buying food products. A lot of them are just buying
candy.... bags and bags and bags of candy.