Herbs · Thyme
How to pick fresh Thyme
Sharp herbal scent, leaves clinging tight to woody stems — that's the one to buy
How to pick
Look for clusters of tiny oval green leaves still firmly attached to thin woody stems. A fresh sprig hits you with a sharp herbal-medicinal scent — earthy and a little spicy — when held close. Stem tips should look green and pliable, turning woody and gray-brown only toward the base. The leaves should look uniformly green; avoid bunches with shed leaves collected at the bottom of the bag.
Red flags
- Gray mold spots or fuzzy growth between sprigs
- Browned or blackened leaf tips
- Bare stem sections where leaves have dropped off
- Dusty or stale smell — the scent is gone
How to store
Wrap unwashed sprigs in a dry paper towel, seal in a zip bag, refrigerate. Lasts 1–2 weeks. Thyme dries beautifully — hang sprigs upside down for 2 weeks; rub leaves off the stem and store in a jar for months. Dried thyme is roughly 3× as concentrated as fresh.
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Season where you live · Nutrients · Taste · Myths · Ayurveda
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Picking, storage, and freshness guidance is drawn from peer-reviewed postharvest research and agricultural extension sources. The sources are named in the app.