Mediterranean Herbs & Spices

The famous phrase 'open sesame' derives from the popping sound akin to a lock spring opening that a ripened sesame pod makes as it bursts open. These hulled seeds are immensely popular in cooking all over the world and form the base for kitchen staples like tahini, hommus and sesame oil. In Mexican cooking, it is used in sauces for mole or adobo. Sesame is also widely used to decorate artisanal breads.

The ancient Greeks believed that thyme was a source of courage; they used it in baths and burnt it as incense in temples. Today, thyme is widely cultivated and used for its heady floral lemon scent.