Mexican oregano
Mexican oregano is not really oregano at all. It is the dried leaf of a different plant, a relative of lemon verbena, while the oregano in your Italian pantry comes from the mint family. They taste related but they are not the same herb.
Where Mediterranean oregano is piney and minty, Mexican oregano leans citrusy and grassy with a mild floral edge. That brighter, more lemony character is exactly why it suits the bold flavors of Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking.
It is almost always sold and used dried. The dried leaves are a little coarser than Mediterranean oregano and carry their flavor well in long-simmered dishes.
