Amman – Eman Youssef
Jordanian lady, Rowida Yassin managed to turn her home-planted thyme into a business through her determination and will. She told “Arab Today” that she used to plant thyme in her house in Jordan in small tanks, then collect it and use it for several purposes in her house, but she started planting big amounts in order to sell it ao that, she and her family live on its income.
She doesn’t depend on outside workers, as she plants it by herself in the land next to her house. She takes care of the thyme until it is time to collect it, then she exposes it to the sun until it is dry, puts sesame and olive oil, and then puts it in nylon bags for sale. Thyme is one of the popular foods that has many preparation methods, as it can be eaten with oil or used in pastries.
Rowida aspires that there will be a permanent market for thyme in town, so that the residents can sell their fresh plants. Thyme has many benefits such as, reducing cholesterol levels in the blood, regulating blood pressure, stimulating the immune system and helps it to fight disease, because it contains vitamin C and vitamin A. It also contains basic oils and Thymol which possesses properties against fungus, bacteria, viruses, and mosquitoes, so thyme is used as a disinfectant for mold. It is used to made insecticides, mouthwash, and sweat removers, and it can improve mood because it obtains Carpacrol, which affects the activity of nerve cells responsible for happiness. It treats diarrhea, urination, and intestinal gas, and used as a food preservative that protects the body from bacterial infections transmitted by food.