Herbes de Provence: What It Is, Flavor, Cooking Use and Health Facts
Herbes de Provence is an earthy, piney dried-herb blend for grilled meat, fish and vegetable stews; it is rarely studied as a blend, and the herbs in it carry mint-family allergy and medicine cautions at supplement level.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
In the kitchen at a glance
Flavor:EarthyWarm / woodyFloral
Aroma: Piney and herbal, with warm, resinous notes and sometimes a soft floral hint from lavender.
Used in: grilling and rubs, vegetables, soups and stews
Usual amount in food: No usual recipe amount found; the single dried herbs in it weigh about 0.6 to 1.4 g per teaspoon (USDA).
What it is
Herbes de Provence is a blend of dried herbs linked to southern France. Savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and oregano form the base, and some makers add basil, bay leaf, tarragon, parsley, fennel, chervil or hyssop. [1] North American blends often include lavender, but lavender is not in a 1910 Provençal cookbook that the Wikipedia article cites. [1] Commercial mixes appeared in the 1970s, and the name has no legal protection. [1] A French quality label, Label Rouge, sets a fixed mix of 19% thyme and 27% each of rosemary, savory and oregano. [1] So recipes vary by maker, and what is in your jar depends on the label.
| Typical ingredient | Role in flavor | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) | Main aroma comes from thymol; keeps flavor well when dried [2] | More about Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) → |
| Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) | Pine-like aroma [3] | More about Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) → |
| Savory (Satureja species) | Used with beans and in Persian, Armenian and Italian cooking; a main part of this blend [4] | No page yet |
| Oregano (Origanum vulgare) | Earthy, warm, slightly bitter; stronger dried than fresh [5] | More about Oregano (Origanum vulgare) → |
| Marjoram | Close relative of oregano, with a different oil; preferred in northern Italy [5] | No page yet |
| Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), sometimes | Sweet fragrance with citrus notes [6] | More about Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), sometimes → |
Flavor and aroma
The blend smells piney, earthy and herbal, because most of its herbs come from the mint family and carry strong aromatic oils. Thyme's smell comes mainly from thymol. [2] Rosemary adds a pine note. [3] Lavender, when present, adds a floral and citrus note. [6] Too much dried lavender can taste soapy, and chefs suggest using about a third of the amount they would use fresh. [6] Drying makes oregano stronger. [5] Thyme holds its flavor better than many herbs when dried. [2]How it is used in cooking
It is mainly used on grilled fish and meat and in vegetable stews. It also goes into vinaigrettes, raw salads and fresh goat cheese. [1] It can be added before, during or after cooking, or mixed with oil and lightly roasted first. [1] Rosemary is used in stews, stuffings, roast meat and marinades. [3]The sources we read give no rule for how much to add or for a swap. Because each herb has its own strength, a different mix will change the dish.
Normal food amounts
USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) has no entry for herbes de Provence itself. It does list the dried herbs inside it. [12] The table shows grams per teaspoon and what that weight provides, calculated from USDA values per 100 g.| Dried herb | Grams per teaspoon | Iron | Calcium | Vitamin K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thyme (leaves) | 1.0 g | about 1.2 mg | about 19 mg | about 17 µg |
| Rosemary | 1.2 g | about 0.4 mg | about 15 mg | not listed |
| Oregano (leaves) | 1.0 g | about 0.4 mg | about 16 mg | about 6 µg |
| Marjoram | 0.6 g | about 0.5 mg | about 12 mg | about 4 µg |
| Savory (ground) | 1.4 g | about 0.5 mg | about 30 mg | not listed |
Typical recipe amount: not found; we opened no source that states one. The USDA data are from 2018, a blend has a different mix, and real products vary. [12] We did not compare these numbers with official daily values, so we do not call the blend a "good source" of anything. Sodium in the single herbs is low (24 to 77 mg per 100 g), but blends sold with salt differ, so read the label. [12]
Buying, storing and preparing
- Forms: pre-mixed dried blend in jars or bags, sometimes with lavender, and homemade mixes of your own dried herbs.
- Label: check for added salt, fillers and whether lavender is listed. The ingredient list tells you more than the name, since the name has no legal definition. [1]
- Origin: the Wikipedia article says only about 10% of the blend sold in France is produced there. [1] We did not verify that figure independently.
- Contamination: FDA's spice risk profile found Salmonella in imported spice shipments, and a 2018 update found lower rates in retail packaged spices for 9 of 11 types, with dehydrated garlic and basil as exceptions. [11] The profile did not test this blend.
- Storing and shelf life: the sources we read give no shelf life for the blend. A cool, dry, closed container is a sensible default, and a faded smell means less flavor.
Health: what research says
Eating a pinch of herb blend in cooking is very different from taking concentrated herb products. Blends are rarely studied as blends, so the research belongs to the single herbs. We link to their pages instead of repeating it.Food amounts vs supplements
| In normal cooking | In supplements and extracts | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical amount | Under 1.5 g per teaspoon of a single herb (USDA); no usual recipe amount found [12] | Tablets, extracts, teas and oils of the single herbs; not of the blend |
| What studies mostly used | No study of the blend was found | Extracts and teas of one herb, often in small trials |
| What we can say about benefit | The sources we read make no health claim for the blend | See each herb page for what trials found |
| Main safety limit | Allergy to mint-family herbs [10] | Pregnancy, medicine and allergy cautions for thyme, rosemary and oregano [7][8][9] |
What the evidence shows
| Use | What the sources found | Strength of evidence | Form and population |
|---|---|---|---|
| The blend as a whole | No study of herbes de Provence as a blend was found in the sources we read. | Insufficient evidence | Not applicable |
| Thyme | EMA accepts thyme medicines for chesty coughs with colds on traditional use alone, not on trials. [7] See the thyme guide. | Insufficient evidence | Medicinal preparations; adults and adolescents over 12 [7] |
| Rosemary | Our own rosemary guide found no proper evidence for memory, hair or blood sugar. [8] See the rosemary guide. | Insufficient evidence | Extracts and aroma, small trials [8] |
| Oregano | One case report links oregano tea to a raised blood-thinner test. [9] See the oregano guide. | Insufficient evidence | Tea; one 77-year-old patient [9] |
| Lavender | See the lavender guide. We opened no direct source on culinary lavender health effects. | Insufficient evidence | Not applicable |
| Savory and marjoram | We opened no health source for them. | Insufficient evidence | Not applicable |
Official statements
- EMA (EU): thyme herb for chesty coughs with colds, traditional use only; not for use if allergic to mint-family plants. [7]
- FDA (US), 2018: update of the spice risk profile on pathogens and filth; retail spices had lower Salmonella than imports for 9 of 11 types. [11]
- EFSA, WHO/JECFA, NCCIH: we did not open a statement on the blend, so we give none.
Related pages
Health connections for Herbes de Provence
What research links to this spice, and how strong the evidence is. Most studies use concentrated extracts or doses far above what you eat; each card says which.
Thyme for chesty coughs with colds (traditional use)
Not enough evidenceEMA accepts thyme herb medicines for productive coughs with colds on long-standing traditional use, not on clinical trials.
Supplements: Traditional-use regulatory status only; no study of food amounts or of the blend found.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Root causes (1)
- Medication Side EffectsDocumented risk
One case report links regular oregano tea to a raised blood-thinner test; one case cannot show how common this is, and it concerns tea, not a pinch in cooking.
Conditions & symptoms (1)
- Food AllergyDocumented risk
Mint-family herbs are among spices and herbs reported to cause allergy in children; EMA excludes people allergic to thyme or other mint-family plants from thyme medicines.
Documented risks and interactions (4)
- Mint-family herb allergy. Herbs of the mint family, such as oregano and sage, are among the spices and herbs that can cause allergy in children, with cross-reactivity to pollen. EMA says thyme medicines must not be used by people allergic to thyme or other mint-family plants.
- Oregano tea and a blood-thinner test. A 2025 case report describes a 77-year-old woman on acenocoumarol whose clotting test (INR) rose to 6.42 after about a week of one cup of oregano tea a day, and fell when she stopped. One case cannot show how often this happens.
- Thyme medicines in pregnancy and under 12. EMA says most thyme preparations should only be used by adults and adolescents over 12. Its summary page does not mention pregnancy; the thyme herb guide on this site cites the EMA monograph for no recommendation in pregnancy because safety is not established.
- Salmonella and filth in imported spices. FDA's spice risk profile found Salmonella in imported spice shipments; a 2018 update found significantly lower rates in retail packaged spices for 9 of 11 types, with dehydrated garlic and basil as exceptions.
Frequently asked questions
Is herbes de Provence sweet?
No. It tastes earthy, piney and herbal. Lavender, if the blend has it, adds a floral note, and too much can taste soapy. [1][6]
Does it always contain lavender?
No. North American blends often have it, but it is not in the 1910 Provençal cookbook the Wikipedia article cites. [1] Check the label.
How much is normal?
We found no usual recipe amount. USDA lists 0.6 to 1.4 g per teaspoon for the single dried herbs in it. [12]
Is it safe in pregnancy?
In cooking, the sources we read give no blend-specific warning. EMA and our rosemary guide advise against herb medicines in pregnancy because safety is not established. [7][8] Ask your midwife or doctor.
Can I take it with medicines?
In cooking, the sources we read name no problem. A case report links regular oregano tea to a raised blood-thinner test, so ask if you take a blood thinner. [9]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety in more detail
- Medicines: in food amounts the sources we read name no problem. A 2025 case report describes a 77-year-old woman on the blood thinner acenocoumarol whose clotting test (INR) rose to 6.42 after about a week of one cup of oregano tea a day, and fell after she stopped. [9] One case cannot show how often this happens. If you take a blood thinner, ask your prescriber before regular herbal tea or extracts; see Herbs and Blood Thinners.
- Pregnancy: EMA says safety of thyme medicines in pregnancy is not established; its summary page does not mention pregnancy. [7] Our rosemary guide says the EU herbal committee does not recommend rosemary leaf medicines in pregnancy or breastfeeding. [8] A cooking-level line is not drawn in the sources we read. Ask your midwife or doctor.
- Breastfeeding: see the pregnancy line; the sources we read give no blend-specific statement. [8]
- Children: EMA says most thyme preparations should only be used in adults and adolescents over 12. [7] That is about medicines, not seasoning.
- Allergy: a 2025 review lists herbs of the mint family, such as mint, oregano and sage, among spices and herbs that cause allergy in children, with cross-reactivity to pollen. [10] EMA says thyme medicines must not be used by people allergic to thyme or other mint-family plants. [7] Thyme, rosemary, oregano, marjoram, savory and lavender are all in that family; we did not verify each one in a source. Mustard, celery and sesame are the allergens to look for on labels of blends that add other seasonings. [10]
- Liver and kidney: the sources we read do not describe liver or kidney problems for the blend.
- Surgery: the sources we read do not describe a surgery warning. Tell the surgical team about any supplement.
- Quality and contamination: Salmonella and filth were found in imported spices, with lower rates at retail. [11] Origin varies widely. [1]
- Amounts that cause trouble: the sources we read give none for culinary amounts of the blend.
References
- Wikipedia — Herbes de Provence (cites Reboul 1910, Label Rouge specification, Marseille 2002, Laget 2005). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HerbesdeProvence (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Wikipedia — Thyme. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyme (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Wikipedia — Rosemary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Wikipedia — Savory (herb). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savory_(herb) (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Wikipedia — Oregano. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregano (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Wikipedia — Lavender (culinary use section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender (accessed 2026-10-24)
- EMA (EU) — Thymi herba, herbal medicinal product summary. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/thymi-herba (accessed 2026-10-24)
- alternativemed.com — Rosemary herb guide (cites EMA/HMPC rosemary leaf monograph, 2024). /herbs-botanicals/rosemary (read 2026-10-24)
- Origanum vulgare and hemorrhagic risk, about a case. Ann Cardiol Angeiol 2025; abstract read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39793412/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Spices, herbs and allergic reactions in children: myth or reality, narrative review. Front Allergy 2025; abstract read via Europe PMC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41306764/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- FDA (US) — FDA updates spice risk profile, adds information about lower Salmonella prevalence in retail products, 2018. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-updates-spice-risk-profile-adds-information-about-lower-salmonella-prevalence-retail-products (accessed 2026-10-24)
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (April 2018) — dried thyme (170938), rosemary (171333), oregano (171328), marjoram (170928), savory (170936), from the site's USDA data file.