Thyme | BBC Good Food

Skip to main content

• Subscribe
• Sustainability
• Good Food Shows
• GF x Gousto
• Download our app
• GF x Laithwaites Wine

• Recipes
  • Back to Main menu
  • New and trending
    • Back to Recipes
    • 2026 food trends
    • January recipes
    • Soup recipes
    • Healthy winter foods
  • Newsletter recipes
    • Back to Recipes
    • Healthy soups
    • Comfort food
  • Sign up today
  • WhatsApp feed
  • What to cook
    • Back to Recipes
    • Quick and easy
    • Everyday recipes
    • Family recipes
    • One-pots
    • Slow cooker recipes
    • Traybakes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Batch cooking
    • All inspiration
  • Occasion recipes
    • Back to Recipes
    • Winter recipes
    • Burns Night
  • Meal type
    • Back to Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Browse all meal types
  • Diet type
    • Back to Recipes
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Browse all diet types
  • Explore
    • Back to Recipes
    • Ingredients
    • Cuisines
    • Chef recipes
    • Explore more
• Good Health
  • Back to Main menu
  • Welcome to Good Health
  • Subscribe
    • Back to Good Health
    • Nutracheck
    • Healthy eating plan
    • Free health newsletter
  • Fitness
    • Back to Good Health
    • Protein 101
    • Marathon meal plans
  • Your health
    • Back to Good Health
    • Women's health
    • Improve digestion
  • Healthy eating
    • Back to Good Health
    • Vitamins and minerals
    • What to eat
  • Wellbeing
    • Back to Good Health
    • Sleep better
    • Eat for energy
• What to buy
  • Back to Main menu
  • Trending
    • Back to What to buy
    • Best fibre supplements
    • Best air fryers
    • Best coffee machines
    • Best blenders
  • How we test
  • Wine Club
  • More reviews
    • Back to What to buy
    • Best pan sets
    • Best knife sets
    • Best veg box
    • Best collagen supplement
    • Best coffee beans
    • Coffee pod machines
  • Taste tests
  • Drinks reviews
  • Gift guides
  • Browse all reviews
• Budget
  • Back to Main menu
  • Batch cooking
    • Back to Budget
    • Budget batch cooking
    • Healthy batch cooking
    • Veggie batch cooking
  • Leftovers ideas
    • Back to Budget
    • Leftover chicken recipes
    • Leftover rice recipes
    • Leftover potato recipes
  • Zero-waste
    • Back to Budget
    • Fridge raid recipes
    • 5 waste-free meals
    • Planet-friendly cooking
  • Budget meal plans
    • Back to Budget
    • Student meal plan
    • Quick family meal plan
    • 5-ingredient meal plan
  • Freezable feasts
    • Back to Budget
    • Freezable family dinners
    • Freezer-friendly pasta
    • Healthy freezable meals
  • Cheap eats
    • Back to Budget
    • Quick budget dinners
    • Thrifty family feasts
    • Cheap and healthy
• Cook Smart
• Subscribe
• Subscribe
• Sustainability
• Good Food Shows
• GF x Gousto
• Download our app
• GF x Laithwaites Wine

Search

• Home
• Glossary
• Thyme

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
6. F
7. G
8. H
9. I
10. J
11. K
12. L
13. M
14. N
15. O
16. P
17. Q
18. R
19. S
20. T
21. U
22. V
23. W
24. X
25. Y
26. Z

Thyme|taim|

• Good Food team

Thyme is an aromatic, earthy herb with small, grey-green leaves. Find out how to choose the best thyme, tips to prepare and store it, and how to cook with it.

Ad

What is thyme?

This popular herb grows in Europe, especially the Mediterranean, and is a member of the mint family. Very aromatic, it has small, grey-green leaves, and a sweetly earthy flavour. There are many different varieties, but the most readily available in the UK are the common or 'garden' thyme, and lemon thyme, which has slightly larger leaves and a flavour that is overlaid with a lemony tang. Both types work well with Mediterranean vegetables, eggs, pork, lamb, fish and game. It's quite hardy, so can withstand long cooking times.

When is thyme in season?

Year-round. Save money (and packaging) by buying a pot from your garden centre - it will live quite happily on a warm windowsill or plant it out in a herb box.

Learn how to grow your own thyme from the experts at Gardeners’ World.

Choose the best thyme

Fresh looking leaves, with pliant stems. Avoid any that are dry, brown or mouldy.

How to prepare thyme

Wash, then either use the whole sprig or remove the leaves and discard the stalk. To strip the leaves from the stems, hold a stalk at the top and then firmly run the thumb and forefinger of your other hand along the stalk from top to bottom - the leaves should break off as you go.

How to store thyme

Fresh cut thyme should be wrapped in damp kitchen paper, placed in a perforated bag and stored in the fridge. It will last for up to 5-6 days. Dried thyme should be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dark place - it should last for 4-6 months.

How to cook thyme

Use in stews, stuffings, marinades, omelettes or scrambled eggs.

Alternatives to thyme

Try herbes de Provence or oregano.

See our guide on how to grow your own herbs.

AdAdAdAd

Explore our recipe app

Subscribe now and get access to exclusive recipes, meal plans, podcasts and more.

Try today

Eating well made easy

Make healthy cooking easy and enjoy a year of Good Food All Access for just £44.99, plus receive a free stylish sauté pan (worth £59.99)

Subscribe today

Podcast

Our food team shares tips, techniques and their all-time favourite recipes in our lively weekly podcast.

More