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Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Also known as thyme, common thyme, garden thyme

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A small-leaved Mediterranean subshrub used fresh or dried, and one of the few herbs that stands up to long cooking. Its characteristic phenol, thymol, is also used as an antiseptic ingredient outside the kitchen.

Respiratory HealthImmune Health

Potential health benefits

Best supported: Limited

Ordered by how well the human research supports them — strongest first. A rating describes the state of the evidence, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.

Respiratory function

Respiratory Health
Limited evidence

Thyme appears in standardised combination herbal syrups, usually with ivy leaf or primrose, that have been tested in acute bronchitis and report faster resolution of cough. Those are specific manufactured extracts studied largely in manufacturer-run trials, not the culinary herb, and thyme’s individual contribution has not been isolated.

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

3 sources

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

Immune function

Immune Health
Insufficient evidence

Thymol is strongly antimicrobial in laboratory conditions at concentrations far above anything eating thyme could produce in the body. No human research shows an effect on infection rates, so this remains a laboratory finding.

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

1 source

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

Ask about Thyme

Ask about Thyme

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.

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Key nutrients

Nutrient content per 100 grams
NutrientAmount% DV
Macronutrients
Calories101 kcal5%
Protein5.56 g11%
Total fat1.68 g2%
Carbohydrate24.4 g9%
Fibre14 g50%
Water65.1 g—
Fats
Saturated fat0.467 g2%
Monounsaturated fat0.081 g—
Polyunsaturated fat0.532 g—
Cholesterol0 mg0%
Linoleic acid (omega-6)0.085 g—
Vitamins
Vitamin A238 µg26%
Vitamin C160 mg178%
Vitamin D0 µg0%
Thiamin (B1)0.048 mg4%
Riboflavin (B2)0.471 mg36%
Niacin (B3)1.82 mg11%
Pantothenic acid (B5)0.409 mg8%
Vitamin B60.348 mg20%
Folate45 µg11%
Vitamin B120 µg0%
Minerals
Calcium405 mg31%
Iron17.4 mg97%
Magnesium160 mg38%
Phosphorus106 mg8%
Potassium609 mg13%
Sodium9 mg0%
Zinc1.81 mg16%
Copper0.555 mg62%
Manganese1.72 mg75%
Other measured compounds
Beta-carotene2851 µg—
Ash3.2 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: Thyme, fresh (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 173470).

% 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.

  • driedPreserves thymol content

    Thyme retains much of its character when dried, and its small tough leaves release flavour slowly, which is why it tolerates long braises where softer herbs do not.

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

    Thyme essential oil and young children

    Thymol-rich essential oils are irritant and toxic if swallowed undiluted, and menthol- and thymol-type oils applied near the face of infants and young children can cause laryngospasm. The oil is a different product from the herb.

  • Interaction

    Theoretical antiplatelet effect at extract doses

    Thyme extracts show mild antiplatelet activity in laboratory work. This has not been demonstrated to matter at culinary intake, but concentrated preparations are worth mentioning before surgery.

  • Allergy

    Mint-family cross-reactivity

    People sensitised to other Lamiaceae herbs such as oregano, mint or sage occasionally react to thyme, usually as contact or oral symptoms.