Zaatar

About Zaatar

Both a specific herb (Origanum syriacum) and a spice blend made with sumac, sesame seeds, and salt. The herb is wild oregano native to the Middle East. It has been used for thousands of years and is mentioned in the Bible as the hyssop. The blend is eaten with olive oil and bread at every meal in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. It is mixed with olive oil as a spread for manakish bread. The herb has strong antimicrobial properties. Wild zaatar is endangered due to overharvesting. It is central to Middle Eastern food culture and identity. There are many regional variations of the blend.