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The quality of the prepared raw materials depends on the ability to collect oregano and properly dry it. The most useful and tasty drink from it is obtained from gardeners who adhere to a certain number of rules.
Varieties of oregano for harvesting for the winter for tea
In addition to specific varieties, gardeners also distinguish types of oregano. This is due to the fact that the plant is ubiquitous, but has acquired individual regional characteristics:
- Dwarf oregano looks like marjoram, acquires a bright taste and smell only if it is planted in a sunny place. It often grows as a ground cover crop. Differs in unpretentiousness in leaving, pleasant aroma, rose buds.
The dwarf variety has relatively few essential oils.
- Italian oregano is a hybrid characterized by good winter hardiness and a spicy-sweet aroma.
The Latin name for the Italian oregano is Origanum x majoricum.
- Mexican oregano has a long flowering period.
The buds of the Mexican species are tubular, reddish-pink in color.
Most often, gardeners buy oregano. It grows well in Our Country. It is a perennial, reaching a height of 90 cm. Its inflorescences are purple, pinkish, less often white.
Stems erect, with four edges, pubescent, branched above. The leaves are ovate, with a pointed end.
The buds of oregano are small, collected in shields that look like a panicle
There are varieties whose purpose is to decorate the garden. Species such as Northern Lights and Dushka are popular spices. For tea, it is recommended to purchase the following varieties:
- honey aroma;
- Swan;
- Fragrant bunch;
- Fairy.
When choosing a variety, you need to take into account the duration of flowering, the features of care and planting.
When and where to collect oregano
If there is no garden bed with a plant in the garden, then it can be collected in the wild. Terms depend on the region where the culture grows. Harvesting oregano in the south is best done in July. The further north the region, the later flowering begins, so in some areas it is possible to harvest the plant until September.
To properly harvest oregano, it is important to adhere to the following principles:
- a clearing with oregano should be well lit by the sun;
- it is forbidden to uproot the culture along with the root, otherwise the risk of degeneration of the plant in its natural habitat increases:
- flowers should not be cut along roads, next to buildings, factories;
- the bush should be clean, without dirt and cobwebs.
The quality of raw materials depends on the literacy of the procedure. Intact, healthy stems with blossoming buds are subject to collection. You need to cut branches at a height of 25-50 cm from the ground. Do not cut off the stems, as there is a high risk of damage to the rhizome. The best option would be to use secateurs or scissors.
If the flowering shrub is covered with mud, then it must be washed and left under the sun until it dries completely. Do not collect wet branches, they may develop mold in the future.
During the collection, you need to carefully inspect the plant: it is impossible for insects or debris to remain in it
Preparing oregano for drying
To obtain high-quality raw materials, not only the stage of collecting the plant is important, but also its further processing.
It is customary to dry the branches entirely. If the oregano is crushed, then it will partially lose its beneficial substances. It is allowed to wipe the leaves and buds with a damp cloth to remove dust. Affected parts of the culture are recommended to be removed.
Preparation consists in collecting stems in bunches of 7-15 branches. The resulting bouquet must be tied with a thread. It is recommended to separate the leaves from the flowers if the gardener plans to add the culture not only to tea, but also to dishes as a spice.
How to dry oregano
The choice of method is at the discretion of the grower. To obtain high-quality raw materials, it is necessary to adhere to the work algorithm.
Outdoors
The maximum shelf life of the oregano, which was processed correctly. The most common drying method is open air. This method allows you to save the beneficial substances of the plant and its aroma. The duration of the procedure is 3-6 days.
Drying oregano in the open air after collection can be done in several ways:
- Line a horizontal surface with paper. To do this, it is best to use a sieve, wire rack or baking sheets, cutting boards, boxes. Spread the grass after harvesting in layers, no more than 6-8 cm thick. Twice a day, the oregano must be stirred to ensure it dries evenly.
- Vertical drying on crossbars or ropes. Hang bundles with oregano after collection, tops down. Periodically, raw materials should be inspected, swapped.
When drying vertically, air should be provided to the grass, so there should be a small distance between the bunches
Open air does not mean direct sunlight. The room should be clean, well ventilated, with a humidity of no more than 50-60%. Most often, gardeners prefer balconies, attics or sheds.
In the oven
This method of harvesting oregano is not the best option. If the temperature regime is violated, the risk of damage to raw materials is high. Drying grass in the oven is popular with gardeners seeking to reduce the time of the procedure. Most often, all manipulations take from one to three hours.
Algorithm of actions:
- Line a baking sheet or wire rack with baking parchment.
- Spread oregano after collection evenly over the surface.
- Set the temperature on the timer to no higher than 40 °C.
- Dry the oregano after collection for 20 minutes, not completely closing the door. If the stove is gas, then the gap should be at least 14-20 cm. When using an electric oven, the distance can be reduced to 4-5 cm.
- Turn off the stove, let the grass cool completely. To do this, periodically turn over the shoots.
Even when setting a low temperature in the oven, there is a risk that the grass will partially lose its properties and aroma.
In an electric dryer or dehydrator
This method is optimal for processing grass after harvest. The duration of the procedure is 2-4 hours. But before starting work, you should make sure that the device has a “grass” mode, or there is the possibility of manual temperature control.
Algorithm of actions:
- Put stems or small branches in one layer on the grills of the device.
- Set the temperature to no more than 35-40 °C.
- Every 30 minutes, change the location of the grates to ensure that the raw material dries evenly after collection.
- At the end of the work, leave the grass until it cools down.
Do not fill the grates of the device tightly, as this will slow down the circulation of air between the layers and lead to a disruption in the process.
How to store dried oregano
Most often, gardeners dry the grass after harvesting and leave it in its original form indoors. To do this, just cover it with gauze from insects. But this method is irrational: if moisture gets in, the grass will deteriorate.
It is recommended to process the raw materials after harvesting and drying: chop the oregano with your fingers, discarding the thick stems. You can separate the flowers from the leaves to add the plant not only to tea, but also as a spice in dishes.
The optimal storage containers are fabric bags, cardboard or wooden boxes, ceramic containers.
It is not recommended to store oregano together with herbs if there is no certainty that they can be combined with each other.
Please note that the maximum storage period does not exceed 1,5 years. If rot, an unpleasant odor or insects appear, further use of the dried plant is impossible.
Conclusion
If you collect oregano correctly and store it, you can enjoy fragrant tea and delicious dishes all winter. The culture grows safely both in the wild and on the site, so the collection and preparation of raw materials do not cause difficulties. The quality of the resulting product depends on the literacy of the work performed.
