Thymus vulgaris is a bushy, woody, flowering evergreen shrub with small, aromatic, grey-green leaves and clusters of purple-pink flowers. Part of the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Thyme is a well-known culinary herb, much used in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking â both fresh and dried â in which it appears as a common ingredient in a range of herb mixes. Thyme was a common remedy for a of ailments in ancient Rome and has long been used in traditional medicine to treat coughs, mouth ulcers, throat infections and to aid digestion.