We have received many requests to highlight another local plant on our Weekend Fun feature.
Readers say they have learnt quite a lot about the properties of these plants.
Hence we are happy to present another edition of ‘name this plant’ and talk about its properties.
So, can you name this plant and mention some ways in which it is used?
Enjoy the weekend.
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but DNO never told us what was the correct name of this plant
Gwo-Jai, or Gwo-diten
I know it as Gwo Jai ….i’ve got a plant growing in my graden right now …i am hoping that when winter gets here that it don”t die…
gwoditan
gwan tan
Scientific name: (Plectranthus amboinicus)
Other names Spanish Thyme, Cuban Oregano, Indian Borage, french thyme, broad leaf thyme which we call gros diten. It is used for seasoning meets, fish ect.
The leaves have also had many traditional medicinal uses, especially for the treatment of coughs, sore throats and nasal congestion, but also for a range of other problems such as infections, rheumatism and flatulence. The plant is grown wild throughout the Caribbean region. In some regions it is used in traditional medicine to treat malarial fever, hepatopathy, renal and vesical calculi, cough, chronic asthma, hiccough, bronchitis, helminthiasis, colic, convulsions, and epilepsy.
dont give your man to much of this in his food as it is knownto cut his sex drive lol
It is called many names,including Lemon Balm
The other plant next to the Gwo Ji looks like what we call lavanne>There are two types.One with the red flowers which is used as a decor for your house or floral arrangement.There is another one which we used to put in cocoa tea or visou.(cane juice tea) That thing gives the cocoa tea with coconut milk a most delicious and mouth watering taste.Any one heard of it?Its a common plant in my village it’s pinkish i mean the flowers,and that is the part you use to make the tea.Holla me if you know what i am talking about.
i know it as gwo ji or gwo de teng. it is used as a seasoning for any type of meat fish . it is also very good when you have sezisman.Like when you are pettrified with fear.You brew three leaves and sip it . it helps.
This is a (gros dite)or big thyme tree. It could
use in fish meat it gives the food a very good taste You could made tea ans also use the leaf on boils.
big thyme
gwo detin, broad leaf thyme
In Barbados it called Broad Leaf Thyme
GO JY
i know it as wild thyme
I know it as big thyme
MY GRAN USED TO PUT IN HER SMOKE PIPE AND
SMOKE IT WHAW
I would not have known what this plant was, until I walked the garden of my great teacher “Miss Elizabeth Alfred”, of our home village, Giraudel.
This happened when I returned to Dominica in 2008, after living in Toronto for 30 years–by then it seemed that I had forgotten everyone and everything there.
When I visited with Miss Alfred, we took a walk through their extremely large garden, as she helped me to remember what every thing was. Ayelass! Ayelass! I could not even remember the names of some of our mangoes–good heavens!
And so, when we got to that plant in the garden–which looked very much like the one in the picture– even if Miss Alfred asked me to inhale it sent of the lead, which was a very beautiful aroma–I could not tell her what it was.
She told me it was the leaf of “Thyme”. Of course I would never have known, because I had never seen “thyme” with such large leaves.
And now DNO! With all that said; how can you tell me I am wrong? Hehehehehehehehehe!
To be honest, I have seen this plant but cannot remember the name. I think it has a sweet taste and is good for making tea.
I also mean to state, including a sweet smell.
I know it as godji.used to season food
Wi Bon Dieu…the fireman..if that hold you unaware, you in some serious problems. CAn you imagine I never knew the “proper” names for many plants until DNO started bringing them for naming. Only local names I knew….. thats a good thing
Last weekend I got some from a Hatian friend of mine who has a plant in her back yard I told her we use it when we cook fish back home and it is also good for gas.
Makes a great tea. Known as Oregano or Spanish Thyme.
Creole name ‘Gwo jai’
We call it big tyme
Gwo diten. When I was small, I used to warm a leaf over the fire, and put in on the “shofee” between my toes. Gave me a relief.
I know this plant as gros jai growing up as a child. So what is the correct name?
Thank you.
dat look like zootie
I thought the same thing initially. Then I took a closer look and realised it was a plant that grows in my yard and I was told its thyme, used for tea and seasoning.
white thyme
Gwo jai
get real. its GWO JAI
fireman
Broad Leaf Thyme
I know it A bEOs Leaf thyme
Good for hypertension too! Just wash leaves and put in hot water to steep.
Don’t know the english name, but it’s pronounced “Gwo Diten”. We used it mostly to season fish when making broth.
italian thyme
The name is Gwo thyme. We use the it.
I know this one back home as Gros Jai and it is great in cooking to flavor food especially fresh fish. Cuts the fresh. Also it can be used as medicine to both drink and warm to put on cuts.
Sage or gwo deteh.. used to put in gravy, used as a seasoning, used to make tea
oregano
i can see ginger lilly and lemon grass in the back too.
Gwo Detin`. Adds good flavor to your fish and meats. Grand parents always have a plant or two around the house.
its very good for pre menstrual cramps when taken as a tea
I know it as French Thyme.
Spanish thyme
it looks like a good leaf to use to clean oneself after you take a number 2 in the woods….
the leaves look a little thick. hairy yet soft…..perfect for cleaning that area..Adam and eve used these typed of leaves to do the job
then discovered that it smelled good so started using it to cook with
Na man Tiny stuupes
@ tiny
Were you there with Adam and Eve? You are something else.
the name of the plant is french thyme. it is used as seasoning and medicine and alot of the people from different countries and cultures have been using it for decades.
Big thyme, it has many uses.
Thyme
Gros Jai…this is a cooking ingredient that can be used in anything. My favorite is in stew pork or stew turkey wings….hmmmmmmmmm! Grand used to love that to the bone.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
Thyme…good for gastric problems too, great in food…
thats thime….
well for sure i can see more than one plant here, so i will just say its a Grafted Grass Plant!
well DNO there is nothing you can put and dominicans will not know whats it it. The people and them know their thing lol
secret inggridient in black pudding, well not secret anymore
We should not eat black pudding.period
@ Anonymous
Who said so???? I love black pudding; have not ate it for sometime. The mention of it makes my mouth water. Would love some right now. I only eat it if certain people I know make it. One of my friends makes tasting, well-seasoned black pudding. Eat your heart out!
We reside in Toronto but miles away from each other; only a phone call away! 
I hope soon I will be able to eat some black pudding.
I know this plant as grois detein. It is a very good seasoning and is used in sancoche lamowi. It is also good for women who have period cramps as it allows her to pass the blood clots.
gwo di ,ten good adding taste in food.
That is called a lettuce tree.
are u stupid or what,this is a thing being placed in the food. how can this be a lettuce
lol..lol..lol
SAGE LOCAL NAME GROS JAI OR GROS DITEN IT IS A THYME USE TO COOK AND USED FOR MEDICINE GIVES UR DISH A GOOD FLOVOR OVE COOKING WITH IT
It is the big thyme, used as a condiment or seasoning and also a cure for the common cold.
This plant goes by the local name “Gros Di Teng”. A very spicy and aromatic herb.
i call it wild thyme dont know the real name, but it’s good to cook with.
This is Sage. Some people call it Gros Jai or gros diten. It is used as a herbal seasoning in foods especially crab and crayfish or sancoche
I have some in my kitchen right this moment but the name isn’t coming to me…BELGAMOT…is what is stuck on the brain right now
gros diter – big thyme
its thyme – the broad/large leaf.
add it when cooking red beans..
“go Jii” or gwo diten, its used for seasoning; very good on fish broth especially white fish like balaw, also gives a smashing flavour to stew back n nect
OREGANO OR BIG THYME AS COMMONLY KNOWN. USED FOR THE FLAVOURING OF MEATS AND FOODS .THE CRUSHED DRIED LEAVES USED FOR PIZZA MAKING.
Oregano and Thyme have health benefits. They are highly recommended. I use them in cooking, be they powder or leaf form.
we call it gwo diteh…don’t know what is the real name but it gives a nice flavour in broth and other foods.
thyme…. food seasoning plant
Gwadetier. forgive me I do not know how to speak the creole language properly but the name sounds something like this and used as a seasoning.
OREGANO OR AS COMMONLY KNOWN AS BIG THYME
That is zooti.
zoo..what??? hahahahahaa
Its used for cooking (gravy), the name I can remember, and hope i’m pronouncing it correctly is “Glo-ji”.
gwo jye
I hang my head in shame. I have no idea.
lol
You have lots of company…I’m sure learning alot on DNO
Big thyme
Dat is Gros Di Tem
or Gro di Thyme
We use it alot for cooking it is part of the thyme family and used as such in our culinary culture.
It is easy to grow and spreads well. Very resilient plant.
Thyme(gwo diten)
thyme
TIME………. but dat in a food an you good to go “TIME”