Origanum vulgare is a well-known member of the mint family. Warming, aromatic, and slightly bitter, oregano is an herbaceous perennial and common garden plant.

Oregano is a warm and aromatic yet slightly bitter herb in the mint family. Good quality oregano has a pungency that numbs the tongue. The name is derived from the Greek, meaning "mountain of joy". Sunlight encourages the concentration of the essential oils that give oregano its flavor.