Know2eat

Marjoram

Origanum majorana

What marjoram has been studied for

2 associations assessed — 1 with at least some human evidence behind it. Strongest first.

  • 1 Limited
  • 1 Insufficient
3 things to know first — allergies, interactions and intake limits

About marjoram

A mint-family herb closely related to oregano but sweeter and much less pungent, used dried in central European and North African cooking. The USDA entry is the dried leaf, which is extremely light — a teaspoon weighs well under a gram.

Also known as marjoram, sweet marjoram, knotted marjoram

Blood Sugar & Metabolic HealthMental Wellbeing

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Limited

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.

Insulin sensitivity

Blood Sugar & Metabolic Health
Limited evidence

One small randomised trial of marjoram tea twice daily for a month in women with polycystic ovary syndrome reported improved insulin sensitivity and lower adrenal androgen levels. It is a single small study in a specific group, has not been replicated, and cannot be generalised to marjoram used in cooking.

Limited evidence. Early human work, or mostly lab and animal research.

1 source

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Stress and anxiety

Mental Wellbeing
Insufficient evidence

Marjoram is sold as a calming herb and appears in aromatherapy blends. Human trials of the herb itself for stress or anxiety are absent, and aromatherapy studies of mixed essential oils cannot be attributed to one component.

Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

2 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Ask about Marjoram

Ask about Marjoram

Answers are written only from the entries on this page — the same nutrients, compounds, claims and citations you can read above. Nothing is added from outside the database, and every answer lists what it was built from.

AI explanations are not switched on for this site, so there is nothing to ask here. Everything above is read straight from the database and does not need them.

Key nutrients

Nutrient content per 100 grams
NutrientAmount% DV
Macronutrients
Calories271 kcal14%
Protein12.7 g25%
Total fat7.04 g9%
Carbohydrate60.6 g22%
Fibre40.3 g144%
Total sugars4.09 g—
Water7.64 g—
Fats
Saturated fat0.529 g3%
Monounsaturated fat0.94 g—
Polyunsaturated fat4.41 g—
Cholesterol0 mg0%
EPA (omega-3)0 g—
DHA (omega-3)0 g—
DPA (omega-3)0 g—
Linoleic acid (omega-6)1.18 g—
Vitamins
Vitamin A403 µg45%
Vitamin C51.4 mg57%
Vitamin D0 µg0%
Vitamin E1.69 mg11%
Vitamin K622 µg518%
Thiamin (B1)0.289 mg24%
Riboflavin (B2)0.316 mg24%
Niacin (B3)4.12 mg26%
Vitamin B61.19 mg70%
Folate274 µg69%
Vitamin B120 µg0%
Choline43.6 mg8%
Minerals
Calcium1990 mg153%
Iron82.7 mg460%
Magnesium346 mg82%
Phosphorus306 mg24%
Potassium1522 mg32%
Sodium77 mg3%
Zinc3.6 mg33%
Copper1.13 mg126%
Manganese5.43 mg236%
Selenium4.5 µg8%
Other measured compounds
Beta-carotene4806 µg—
Alpha-carotene0 µg—
Lycopene0 µg—
Lutein + zeaxanthin1895 µg—
Caffeine0 mg—
Ash12.1 g—

Nutrient values are per 100 g of the USDA reference entry named on this page and vary with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

Source record: Spices, marjoram, dried (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 170928).

% DV uses the FDA Daily Values for adults and children aged 4 and over. A dash means no Daily Value has been established for that nutrient.

Bioactive compounds

Compounds present in meaningful amounts. Presence is banded rather than quantified, because whole-food levels vary enormously with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

How preparation changes things

Only effects with real support are listed. If a preparation method is missing, it is because nothing dependable is documented — not because it makes no difference.

  • driedIncreases flavour concentration

    Marjoram is one of the few soft herbs that dries well, with the dried leaf noticeably more concentrated by weight than fresh. Roughly a third as much dried is the usual substitution.

Things to know

Allergies, interactions and intake concerns. Every food gets this section — a reference where everything is uniformly good is not a reference.

  • Worth knowing

    Traditionally avoided at medicinal doses in pregnancy

    Marjoram appears in herbal literature as an emmenagogue and is conventionally avoided as a concentrated preparation or strong tea in pregnancy. There is no modern safety data, which is the point.

  • Allergy

    Mint-family allergy

    Occasional reports describe oral itching, rhinitis or contact dermatitis in people sensitised to Lamiaceae herbs such as oregano, thyme, mint and basil.

  • Interaction

    Marjoram tea has hormonal effects in the trials that used it

    The small polycystic ovary syndrome study that made marjoram tea popular reported changes in androgen levels. If a herb can move hormone measurements it is not automatically inert, and anyone on hormonal treatment taking it daily should mention it.