A look into the Shady World of Illegal Oregano | Food Unwrapped

Jimmy investigates the wild word or oregano and how some people are breaking the law to make a little extra cash.

Food Unwrapped Season 8 Episode 2

Our team of intrepid presenters (Jimmy Doherty, Kate Quilton, Matt Tebbut, Helen Lawal, Andi Oliver, Amanda Byram and Briony May Williams) travel the world uncovering unusual, intriguing and surprising secrets behind the food we eat.

[panostriantaphillou]

The correct accent is on the e (from ancient times), since you want to know: Ορέγανον.
The name oregano is derived from the Greek oros (meaning mountain) and ganos (meaning joy).
The literal translation means “mountain of happiness, ” since it covers hillsides in the Mediterranean
and smothers them with beautiful fragrance and flowers.

[BatCaveOz]

Mad props to the dude circa 2:00 harvesting crops by hand in a business shirt.

[dylanc]

Thank you for posting a full length video instead of a 2 minute skipover!

[Subgunman]

I know the oregano I have is 100% pure. My mother in law picked it in the hills of one of the Greek islands. Here in Crete they have their own sub species of oregano it has a slightly different taste and scent.

[symphantic]

It's all about that clean oregano, baby! Don't come at me with that cut stuff.

[bluebull]

I live in the UK (which is a cold country) and people grow all these herbs in their gardens, even basil can grow here from March to October. Garden grown herbs always taste better than the dried stuff you buy in supermarkets.

[howey]

I don’t get people buying herbs when they’re so easy to grow yourself. In the U.K. grow it in pots so you can bring it indoors in the winter.

[billclinton]

Solution is simple, plant an herb garden. They don't take up hardly any room. If you live in an apartment you can use pots or planters. And best of all, oregano is a perennial, unlike basil, so you don't have to continually resow seeds.

[grandmothergoose]

Well now that makes me even more happy that I started growing my own!

[kendawa]

This was an outstanding video. Thank you.

[patmcbride]

Oregano is an herb that keeps trying to take my herb garden over.
It's a weed.

[Valtrach]

Great report. Super interesting. Big thumb up! Thank you for your time and work.

[harmsc]

Every time he says "ORI-GAH-NO" my brain expects it to be the word "origami" instead.

[julie]

My father-in-law (Polish) always said or-E-gano and would scold me for saying it or-egg-ano. Lol... I miss him now after watching this. However, I have learned to look closely at the label! 👍

[joefirma]

From now on I will be growing and drying my own oregano leaves.

[RevJamesCostello]

When I lived in Cyprus, a Turkish gentleman treated me to a few cups of Turkish coffee. I always remember it tasting quite ‘muddy, ’ with tiny bits of coffee bean remaining. When you see the leftover of the coffee tipped out here, you can see why.

[davidlguerr]

I live in Portugal, and buy locally produced oregano as a whole plant, not as powder or leaf in the supermarket. I buy directly from the producers in farmer's markets, so I know I am getting the real deal.

[jayyyzeee]

If someone is found to sell adulterated oregano, then they should be forced out of business and prosecuted. A zero tolerance policy should clear things up.

[ritahall]

Would you do a show about Thai Basil ? Please !

[skreebduchank]

I know it's quite harsh when smoked out of a pipe.