There are more varieties of seeds and herbs that can be found in numerous plants. These seeds and herbs can be highly beneficial for cooking and health purposes.
It is quite important to know their uses, allergic reactions and use them efficiently. The two most used herbs are thyme and ajwain. They share similar features and tastes but they vary in their uses and method of growing.
Key Takeaways
- Thyme is a herb with a subtle, earthy flavor used in cooking, whereas ajwain is a spice with an intense, bitter flavor used in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
- Thyme is commonly used in Mediterranean and French cuisine, while ajwain is used in Indian and Middle Eastern bread, snacks, and curries.
- Thyme has a milder flavor than ajwain.
Thyme vs Ajwain
Thyme is an herb with a herbaceous and slightly minty flavor commonly while ajwain is a small seed-like fruit with a pungent, slightly bitter, and peppery taste. Thyme is used to flavor soups, stews, and roasted meats while Ajwain is used to flavor bread, biscuits, and snacks.
Thyme is a dried herb belonging to the Thymus genus and family of mint. Thymes resemble the taste and looks of a widely used topping called oregano.
The cultivation of the thymus happens in the spring season in drained soil. The advantage of growing thyme will be the cultivation of thyme can also happen in presence of drought.
Ajwain is a small and oval-shaped seed that belongs to the Trachyspermum and the family of Apiaceae. This family consists of aromatic flowering plants and is one of the biggest flowering plants family.
The suitable region for cultivating ajwain is dry and barren regions. Mostly, the cultivation of ajwain will happen around the desert regions.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Thyme | Ajwain |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Thyme belongs to the family of mint leaves called Lamiaceae. | Ajwain belongs to the family of flowering plants Apiaceae. |
| Genus | Thyme belongs to the genus of Thymus. | Ajwain belongs to the genus of Trachyspermum. |
| Season | Thyme grows in seasons of hot, sunny, and drained soil. | Ajwain grows in seasons of dry and barren regions. |
| Flavor | Thyme has a floral and sweet flavor. | Ajwain has a sharp and pungent flavor. |
| Benefits | Thyme contains Vitamin C for supporting the immune system. | Ajwain fights bacteria and reduces the cholesterol in our bodies. |
What is Thyme?
Thyme is a herb that comes from the flowering plant of dried aerials. It belongs to the genus of the Thymus and mint family called Lamiaceae.
The family of Lamiaceae is also known as Labiatae which is a family consisting of flowering plants and is commonly known as mint. Generally, these plants of family, Lamiaceae will be aromatic in most of the parts.
Thyme is a herb that is very similar to the herb oregano. The herb oregano is mostly used as a topping that adds flavor to the dishes after the cooking process is completed. These herbs are added to the dishes to increase the taste and smell.
Thyme has a similar taste and looks like oregano. Thyme can be cultivated in summer times of hot and sunny weather and requires adequate well-drained soil for its healthy growth.
Thyme is a herb that has numerous medical benefits. Thyme is highly rich in vitamin C which increases the potassium in our body and boosts our immunity system.
In addition to this, consuming thyme is also helpful in blood clotting and increasing the health of the bones on our bodies. Drinking thyme water helps in reducing headaches and increases memory power.
Hence, thyme is a naturally grown seed from flowering plants and has numerous health benefits when consumed.
What is Ajwain?
Ajwain is also a herb that comes from the genus of Trachyspermum and the family of Apiaceae. The family of Apiaceae is also popularly known as Umbelliferae which is the family of aromatic flowering plants and commonly known as a carrot.
A flowering plant is a group of plants that grows showy flowers and hence, termed flowering plants.
Ajwain is an annual herb which means the cultivation of ajwain seed happens like a life generation. The cultivation of the ajwain herb starts with the germination of the seeds, production, and growth of the seeds, completes its maximum growth, and then it dies.
Hence, these plants which complete the life generation is known as annual herb and ajwain is one of the popular annual herbs in the world.
The herb ajwain is small, shaped in the form of an oval, and has a pale brown color. Ajwain is cultivated in dry and barren places. The consumption of ajwain seeds helps in fighting against bacterial infection, lowers blood pressure, prevents coughs, increases airflow, and has anti-inflammatory effects on our bodies.
It is quite healthy to consume a spoonful of raw ajwain seeds every morning. Hence, ajwain is a herb that can be cultivated easily and has numerous health benefits.
Main Differences Between Thyme and Ajwain
- Thyme has the genus of Thymus while the herb of ajwain belongs to the genus of Trachyspermum.
- Both thyme and ajwain is aromatic plants but belongs to different families. Thyme belongs to the family of mint while ajwain belongs to the family of Apiaceae.
- Thyme is slightly expensive in the herb market when compared to the herb of Ajwain as there are numerous uses for thyme.
- Thyme grows during summer and requires sufficient nutrients from the drained soil while Ajwain grows in dry soil and does not require much nutrients from the soil.
- The cultivation of thyme is quite easier as they can be cultivated even in the presence of drought while Ajwain cannot be grown in presence of drought.
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9jnpVP6fvUIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=thyme&ots=h2TDtncYlr&sig=3r_Ft_IZMjEyFN8YhI2oho-8yUE
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Preetha-Bhadra-2/publication/342674831_An_Overview_of_Ajwain_Trachyspermum_ammi/links/5f647ca292851c14bc840d36/An-Overview-of-Ajwain-Trachyspermum-ammi.pdf
Last Updated : 16 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
