Za’atar (Arabic: زَعْتَر), the spice blend is a mixture of dried za’atar leaves (the hyssop of the Bible, also known as Syrian marjoram) together with a combination of other ingredients: sesame seeds, sumac, olive oil, and sea salt.

Sindyanna of Galilee’s fair trade za’atar mix is produced in a traditional way from shade dried za’atar leaves that are grown in the Galilee by Arab farmers. We use a unique recipe that adds high quality roasted organic sesame seeds, sea salt, sumac and organic olive oil to the ground leaves.

Za’atar is a very popular spice in the local kitchen. It is used as a seasoning for meats and vegetables, and can also be sprinkled on humus or labaneh (yogurt drained to make a tangy creamy cheese), or mixed with olive oil and eaten with pita bread.

For more information on how to use za’atar, check out this excellent Serious Eats article.