Herbes de Provence
A classic dried herb blend from southwestern France, used for grilling, stews, and soups.
The blend was invented by M. Ducros in the 1960s.[1] A well-known dried herb blend from the Provence region, Herbes de Provence is composed of leaves from shrubs and small trees.[1]
Quick Facts
- Field
- Culinary herb blend
- Origin
- Provence, southwestern France
- Commercial introduction
- 1970s
- Common herbs
- Savory
- marjoram
- rosemary
- thyme
- oregano
- tarragon
- basil
- bay leaves
- black pepper
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
Spice wholesalers, including Ducros (now part of McCormick & Company), formulated varying mixtures in the 1970s.[2] Only 10% of herbes de Provence sold in France are produced there.[3] Historically, Provençal cooking employed many herbs that were collectively referred to as herbes de Provence, but they were not used in fixed recipes or marketed as a pre-mixed product.[2] Common components of the blend include savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and oregano, with possible additions such as basil, bay leaf, tarragon, or fennel.[4]
What the cited sources add
The same source lists the Label Rouge composition as savory, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, and sometimes sage, bay, basil, or chervil.[1] The website markets the blend for grilled meats, fish, vegetables, and roasted vegetables.[1] It evokes the garrigue and summer vacation flavors to enhance zucchini and apricot.[1] The flavor is described as peppery and floral, and the herbs are stated to be 100% natural and organic.[1]
References
- "Herbes de Provence", www.inao.gouv.fr. facts only, no text reused. ducros.fr
- Wikipedia, "Herbes de Provence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Laget, "From its Birthplace in Egypt to Marseilles, an Ancient Trade: 'Drugs and Spices'", Diogenes, 2005, p. 131–139 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Herbes de Provence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; "Herbes de Provence", www.inao.gouv.fr; "DUCROS Grillardin : mélange d'herbes de Provence", www.ina.fr; ; "Dictionnaire de la Provence et de la Côte d'Azur", Éd. Larousse, 2002, p. 382; Dictionnaire de la Provence, . (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Herbes de Provence" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Herman, "Herb & Spice Companion: The Complete Guide to Over 100 Herbs & Spices", Book Sales, 2015-11-02; Gulden, "The Essence of Herbs: A Fingertip Guide to the Common Culinary Herbs", AuthorHouse, 2007 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Herbes de Provence (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced