Import Our Fresh Thyme Herbs

We are your go-to source for premium thyme in bulk! We are growing and exporting our high-quality, aromatic, sustainably-sourced thyme, and we’d love you as a customer. We’re here to enhance your brand and drive your quality up!

At Mulberry Growers, we deliver fresh thyme herbs across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. we have committed to quality, adhering to international certifications like GlobalGAP, GACC, and SMETA, and ensuring that every shipment meets the highest safety and quality standards.

We have the capacity to deliver up to 800kg of thyme every month or 200kg a week, with customizable packaging options tailored to your needs. Our fresh thyme comes in 1kg boxes, each having ten 100g bundles, which streamlines any of your needs for assortment.

Let’s connect and get started! We can provide a tailored quote to position your brand as a leader in the thyme market. Your path to culinary excellence begins with us!

Product Description

Classification: Thyme belongs to the Lamiaceae family, with the most common species being Thymus vulgaris. This aromatic herb features small, oval leaves and tiny purple flowers.

Morphology: The shoots of thyme are woody at the base and herbaceous at the tips. The leaves are dense and often covered in fine hairs, contributing to their distinctive fragrance.

Nutritional Overview of Thyme (per 100 grams)

  • Calories: Approximately 101 kcal
  • Vitamins:
    • Vitamin K: 126% of Daily Value (DV)
    • Vitamin C: 30% of DV
  • Minerals:
    • Iron: 19% of DV
    • Calcium: 18% of DV
    • Manganese: 25% of DV
  • Dietary Fiber: Approximately 14% of DV
  • Antioxidants: Rich in thymol and carvacrol, providing potential health benefits
  • Essential Oils: Contributes to antimicrobial properties and flavor profile

Culinary Uses

  1. Aromatic Seasoning: Thyme is celebrated for its distinct aroma, which is characterized by earthy, woody notes with a hint of lemon.
  2. Herb Blends: Thyme is a key player in many herb blends, such as Herbes de Provence.
  3. Roasting and Grilling: Sprigs of fresh thyme are often used to infuse flavor into roasted or grilled dishes.
  4. Breads and Marinades: Thyme is an excellent addition to bread dough and marinades for meats.
  5. Infused Oils and Vinegar: Thyme-infused oils and vinegar are cherished for their ability to add a burst of flavor to dressings, dips, and marinades.

Medicinal Benefits

  1. Antimicrobial Properties: Thyme contains compounds, including thymol, with strong antimicrobial properties.
  2. Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Thyme has been studied for its anti-inflammatory effects.
  3. Rich in Antioxidants: The antioxidants present in thyme contribute to its potential to neutralize free radicals.
  4. Respiratory Support: Thyme has long been used to support respiratory health.

How Long It Takes to Grow

  1. Seed Germination: We grow our thyme from seeds, and germination typically takes about 7 to 14 days.
  2. Transplanting: Thyme seedlings are ready for transplanting when they have grown large enough, usually around 6 to 8 weeks after germination.
  3. Establishment and Growth: The herb establishes relatively quickly and starts to grow vigorously after transplanting.
  4. Maturity and Harvest: Thyme is generally ready for harvest about 8 to 12 weeks after transplanting.

Growing Conditions and Harvesting

Thyme thrives in well-drained, sandy loam soil with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0. It requires full sunlight for at least 6-8 hours daily. Harvesting typically occurs just before flowering, as this maximizes flavor and essential oil content. We harvest the shoots by cutting above the woody stems to encourage regrowth. For bulk export, we focus on collecting younger, tender shoots that have vibrant green leaves. Proper timing is crucial to ensure high quality; therefore, we do our harvesting in the early morning when moisture levels are higher, enhancing freshness.

Sizing

After harvesting, our thyme is brought to our processing facility where it is inspected and trimmed to prepare it for grading. The trimming involves cutting away any damaged or discolored leaves and woody stems, ensuring that only the highest quality parts are retained. This step enhances both appearance and flavor, as well-trimmed thyme has a more appealing presentation. Next, if required, the thyme can be chopped into smaller pieces to suit different culinary applications. Care is taken during this stage to maintain uniformity in size, which aids in packaging and processing. Each piece is assessed for quality, ensuring consistency before proceeding to the next steps.

Grading, Weighing, and Bundling

Grading is a vital step in preparing thyme for export, focusing on visual appearance and quality. Each batch is carefully examined for leaf color, size, and overall freshness. Thyme that meets the highest export standards is selected for bundling. The thyme is weighed and bundled into manageable units for ease of handling and packaging. Bundling typically involves tying together selected bunches with in 100g units.

Packaging

Packaging of thyme is crucial for maintaining freshness during transport. Inner packaging often consists of perforated plastic bags that allow for ventilation while retaining moisture, crucial for preserving the herb’s aroma and flavor. Externally, sturdy cardboard boxes are typically used, designed to protect the thyme from physical damage and environmental factors. The boxes should be appropriately labeled, indicating origin and quality. Vacuum-sealing may also be employed to extend shelf life, particularly for longer transport durations. Proper sealing and labeling not only ensure product integrity but also enhance the visual appeal for consumers at the point of sale.

Cold Storage and Dispatch

Once packaged, thyme is moved to cold storage, where temperatures are maintained at around 1-4°C to prolong freshness. This environment helps to inhibit microbial growth and preserve essential oils, ensuring the herb retains its aromatic qualities. Regular monitoring of temperature and humidity levels is essential to maintain optimal conditions. When dispatching, thyme is carefully loaded into refrigerated trucks or containers, minimizing exposure to warm temperatures. This attention to cold chain management is critical for bulk exports, as it ensures that thyme arrives at its destination in prime condition, ready for consumers to enjoy the freshest possible product.

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Growing Thyme

  1. Sunlight and Well-Drained Soil: Thyme thrives in full sunlight and well-drained, sandy soil.
  2. Propagation: Thyme can be propagated through seeds, cuttings, or division.
  3. Harvesting: Harvest thyme leaves just before the plant flowers for the best flavor.
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