Oregano It's one of those plants that not only adds aroma and flavor to cooking, but also represents a driving force of development for different communities. In regions like the Sierra de Picachos, located in the municipality of Higueras (Nuevo León, Mexico), its cultivation and harvesting play a significant role in both the local economy and culinary and medicinal traditions.
In recent years, authorities and producers in the area have focused on a very specific goal: obtain the designation of origin for the oregano that grows wild in those mountains, more than 2,500 meters above sea level. The main objective of this certification It is to provide added value to the product, distinguish it in national and international markets and, above all, improve the quality of life of rural communities dedicated to its production.
Oregano from the Sierra de Picachos: a regional treasure
The Ministry of Tourism of Nuevo León, in conjunction with the state Autonomous University and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, has prepared the technical reports necessary to support the application for a designation of origin. Maricarmen Martínez Villarreal, head of Tourism in the state, has emphasized the importance of this step within the sector's plan for tourism and sustainable development between 2021 and 2027.
Fig growers They explain that oregano, known as poliominta longiflora and nicknamed "green gold" for its properties and economic value, it is collected in the natural environment and then dried in greenhouses at lower altitudes. Sustainable production It seeks to achieve up to four harvests per year, thus guaranteeing a constant supply and the regeneration of the ecosystem.
In addition to the Sierra de Picachos, this oregano is found, although to a lesser extent, in other parts of the Sierra de Nuevo León, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas. The goal of official recognition is to boost both its commercial positioning and the preservation of traditional techniques that distinguish it from other varieties around the world.
Properties and traditional uses: from the plate to the home medicine cabinet
Oregano stands out, in addition to its aroma and flavor in the cuisine of the northeast and other Mexican regions, for being common ingredient in folk remedies. Its role in gastronomy It is more than consolidated, but it is in the field of self-care where it has also found a space for generations.
One of the most talked about home remedies today is the use of Oregano oil, recommended to treat common problems such as foot fungusThe practice, which has a following on social media and has been endorsed by wellness experts, consists of mixing olive oil with a few drops of oregano oil and applying it to the affected area. You can use commercial oils available at herbalists, but it can also be prepared at home by crushing dried oregano leaves and mixing them with warm vegetable oil, then straining the mixture.
A value that transcends the purely nutritional
The commitment to oregano goes beyond the purely nutritional. With the designation of origin, seeks to strengthen the region's cultural and economic roots, promote sustainable tourism, and consolidate the state's projection as a gastronomic and agro-industrial benchmark. Thanks to the collaboration between universities, producers, and authorities, the vision is to sustain a model where the cultivation and sale of oregano directly benefit those who depend on it most.
This oregano from the Sierra de Picachos represents identity, local development, and a link between tradition and modernity. Its use in homemade skincare recipes or as part of everyday pantry revalues the knowledge passed down from generation to generation, bringing this humble plant closer to the daily lives of many people.
