Content
Often in recipes for folk remedies and culinary dishes, the names of spices such as caraway and thyme are found. However, not everyone understands the difference between the two and confusion ensues. Indeed, the names of these plants are consonant, however, they differ not only in appearance, but also in taste and aromatic properties. Therefore, in order to avoid mistakes, you need to find out the difference between them.
Caraway and thyme cannot be visually confused.
Cumin and thyme: are they the same thing or not?
Caraway and thyme are two different crops. The first belongs to the Umbrella family. Close relatives of cumin are dill, celery, anise, fennel. The plant can be one or two years old, depending on the variety. Caraway seeds, rich in essential oils, which have found wide application in various fields, are valuable.
Thyme is a member of the Lamiaceae family. Its close relatives are basil, mint, lemon balm, lavender, oregano, rosemary. Thyme is a perennial crop. Young shoots of the plant are widely used, which are recommended to be cut during the flowering period. It is at this time that they contain the maximum amount of useful components.
What is the difference between cumin and thyme
To understand how these crops differ from each other, it is necessary to consider the features of their appearance, taste, field of application, cultivation. You should also pay attention to the place of growth.
Appearance
Caraway is a herbaceous plant, the height of which, depending on the species, can reach 0.3-1.5 m. It forms straight-growing single smooth stems, hollow inside. In the upper part of the plant, the shoots branch slightly.
The root of the caraway is fleshy, fusiform. Leaves are twice or three times pinnately dissected, with sharp-linear lobes. The length of the plates is 6-20 cm, and the width is 20-10 cm. The flowers of caraway seeds are small, white or pink, collected in apical umbellate inflorescences. Their diameter is 4-8 cm. The fruit of caraway is a flattened oblong droplet with a length of 3 mm. When ripe, it turns brown.
The caraway plant is similar in appearance to dill.
Thyme is a lodging perennial shrub that forms turf 15-20 cm high. Its shoots are thin, creeping type, when in contact with the ground, they easily root. Therefore, in the presence of favorable conditions, thyme forms a thick lush carpet on the surface of the soil. The leaves of the plant are small, oval-oblong, tough. Thyme also has high decorative properties. This shrub blooms throughout the summer. Therefore, this culture is also used in landscape design. The color of flowers in thyme can be pink, lilac, purple, white. The buds are small, collected in loose spherical apical inflorescences. Thyme fruits look like small ellipsoid nuts no larger than 0.6 cm in size.
Thyme shoots become woody at the base as they mature
Taste and aroma
Thyme has a pleasant, rich herb aroma. The smell can vary depending on the type of plant. The most popular varieties are those whose shoots and leaves have a pronounced lemon aroma.Thyme has a medium-sharp taste, slightly bitter, spicy. This plant blends perfectly with other aromatic herbs.
Caraway has a more tart flavor that combines sweetness and bitterness at the same time. The smell of the fruit of this plant is reminiscent of nutmeg and black walnut. The taste and aroma of this spice unfolds quickly when heated. Therefore, it is recommended to add it to hot dishes at the end of cooking.
Growing places
Thyme is found in temperate climates. In its natural habitat, it grows in the steppe zones. This perennial is common from the Scandinavian countries to the Mediterranean and from the British Isles to Eastern Siberia. Thyme prefers sandy loam soils and does not tolerate stagnant moisture. The shrub can also be found on rocks, rocky slopes, well-lit forest edges.
Thyme grows even on depleted soils
The steppes of the Caucasus and Crimea are considered the homeland of caraway. From where he with the spice traders came to the Mediterranean, to the Balkan Island, the Middle East, as well as to Asia Minor, North Africa. Currently, caraway is cultivated by many European countries that send fruits and oil for export. For their own consumption, the plant is grown in Ukraine, Russia, the Baltic countries, Scandinavia.
Caraway grows in gardens, forest-steppe, vegetable gardens, meadows, forest edges. The culture is undemanding to the composition of the soil, therefore it can grow even on saline soils.
Cumin prefers a loose, moderately moist substrate
Application
Caraway and thyme have a wide range of uses. Plants are used in cooking and medicine.
Caraway is added to baked goods, sausages, cheeses, fish. And also this spice is used in cooking, distillery and confectionery production. At home, cumin is used for pickling cabbage, cucumbers, making kvass. It is also added to soups, lamb, sauces. For medicinal purposes, dried fruits and essential oil of the plant are used.
Thyme is added to meat, chicken, vegetable dishes, broths, sauces, mushrooms, smoked meats, cheeses. Also, this spice is used in medicine.
Growing
Caraway agrotechnics does not pose any particular difficulties even for novice gardeners. Planting seeds can be carried out in open ground in spring or late autumn. The plant develops well on sandy loam and loamy soils with rich organic matter. Initially, it requires regular weeding and watering as needed.
Throughout the growing season, you need to fertilize caraway twice, using phosphorus-potassium mineral mixtures. The fruits ripen in July. They are collected when half of the umbrellas on the plant turn brown.
The fruits of caraway do not ripen at the same time
When growing thyme, difficulties arise at an early stage in the development of seedlings. Therefore, it is recommended to sow this crop by seedling method. For thyme, choose a well-lit area. At the same time, it is important that the level of soil acidity is low or neutral.
It is possible to plant seedlings in a permanent place in the spring, when the earth warms up enough. Thyme does not need frequent watering. It tolerates drought well and can die if moisture stagnates in the soil. At the initial stage of planting, you need to weed and loosen the soil at the base of the plants. It is necessary to fertilize the shrub twice: in the spring - with organic matter, in the summer - with phosphorus-potassium mixtures.
Which is healthier: cumin or thyme
Both plants have medicinal properties, but they are used to treat various diseases.Therefore, it is difficult to say which of these cultures is more useful.
Thyme-based preparations are prescribed for:
- bronchial asthma;
- colds;
- whooping cough;
- cough;
- sore throat;
- laryngitis;
- gastrointestinal disorders.
In folk medicine, perennials are used to treat dermatitis, prostate adenoma, inflammation of the oral cavity, toothache and headache, painful menstruation, and rheumatism.
Cumin helps:
- increase the outflow of bile;
- relieve intestinal cramps;
- normalize the digestion process;
- improve lactation;
- with flatulence, atony.
In folk medicine, this plant is used as a laxative, as well as for the treatment of bronchitis, headache, insomnia, pneumonia.
Cumin is part of many choleretic charges
Similarities of herbs
Both plants are excellent melliferous plants. Also, caraway and thyme belong to the category of undemanding crops, so even a novice gardener can cope with their cultivation. The similarity lies in the fact that both cultures are widely used in cooking and have healing properties. Otherwise, they are completely different.
Conclusion
Caraway and thyme are spicy plants that are in great demand. But when choosing a seasoning, you need to focus not only on the name, but also on the features of its use. After all, caraway and thyme go well with different dishes. In this case, the first is better to use in a crushed form, and the fruits of the second are not recommended to be ground, since in this case they quickly lose their taste and aroma.
