Dried Tarragon vs. Dried Thyme - Nutrition and Health Impact Comparison

by Ani Harutyunyan | Last updated on July 25, 2024

Medically reviewed by Victoria Mazmanyan

Summary

While thyme is higher in carbohydrates, containing 5 times more dietary fiber, tarragon is 1.6 times higher in net carbs. Thyme is also somewhat higher in calories, while tarragon contains more protein.

Tarragon is a better source of vitamins, providing 4 times more vitamin B6 and 3 times more vitamin B2. That being said, thyme is the winner in the mineral category, being richer in calcium, zinc, and copper.

Table of contents

Introduction

Taste and Use

Nutrition

Macronutrients and Calories

Calories

Carbs

Proteins

Fats

Vitamins

Minerals

Glycemic Index

Health Impact

Antioxidant Effects

Anti-inflammatory Effects

Antibacterial Effects

Cardiovascular health

References

Introduction

Although both are spices with distinct aromas, tarragon and thyme have a lot of differences in terms of the nutrients they provide. This article will compare the nutritional values and health impacts of dried tarragon and thyme (1, 2).

Taste and Use

Tarragon has a delicate flavor with hints of anise or licorice. It is slightly sweet with a mild bitterness. Thyme has a more robust and earthy flavor with subtle floral and minty notes. It is less sweet and more pungent compared to tarragon.

Tarragon has a pleasant, aromatic scent, often described as a mix of anise and vanilla. Thyme has a strong, herbaceous aroma, which can vary slightly depending on the specific thyme variety.

Tarragon is commonly used in French cuisine and pairs well with chicken, fish, and egg dishes. It is a key ingredient in sauces like Béarnaise and tartare sauce. Tarragon is also a component of the classic herb blend "Fines Herbes."

Thyme is widely used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. It complements various meats, roasted vegetables, and tomato-based dishes. It is often included in spice blends like Herbes de Provence and Za'atar. Thyme is excellent for adding depth to hearty and savory dishes. It stands up well to longer cooking times and is perfect for stews, soups, and roasted meats.

Nutrition

The nutritional infographics below are presented for 100g servings of dried thyme and tarragon. However, these spices are naturally not used in such large quantities at once. One average serving of these spices per person is 1 teaspoon, equal to 0.6g for tarragon and 1g for thyme.

Macronutrients and Calories

Spices, including tarragon and thyme, are very nutrient-dense. Both are made up of 8% water and 92% nutrients.

Thyme is higher in carbohydrates, while tarragon contains more protein.

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison

Dried thyme

Protein: 9.11 g

Fats: 7.43 g

Carbs: 63.94 g

Water: 7.79 g

Other: 11.73 g

Tarragon

Protein: 22.77 g

Fats: 7.24 g

Carbs: 50.22 g

Water: 7.74 g

Other: 12.03 g

Contains more CarbsCarbs

+27.3%

Contains more ProteinProtein

+149.9%

~equal in Fats ~7.24g

~equal in Water ~7.74g

~equal in Other ~12.03g

Calories

Tarragon is only slightly higher in calories. Overall, these spices add insignificant amounts of calories to the dish.

1g serving of tarragon provides 2.95 calories, and 1g of thyme has 2.76 calories.

Carbs

Thyme is higher in carbohydrates, containing 0.64g per 1g, while 1g of thyme provides 0.5g. Despite this, tarragon is 1.6 times higher in net carbs, whereas thyme is 5 times richer in dietary fiber.

Proteins

While these spices are not great sources of protein, tarragon is 2.5 times richer in this nutrient. 1g of tarragon and thyme contain 0.23g and 0.09g of protein, respectively.

Fats

Tarragon and thyme contain similarly low amounts of fats - nearly 0.07g per 1g serving.

Vitamins

Spices, being very dense in micronutrients, can be a good way to add more vitamins to a dish.

Tarragon is a better source of most vitamins, providing 4 times more vitamin B6 and 3 times more vitamin B2. It is also richer in vitamins B3 and A.

That being said, thyme is 2 times richer in vitamin B1.

These two spices are equally rich in vitamins A, C, and B9 or folate.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Dried thyme

Tarragon

Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E	+∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1	+104.4%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K	+∞%
Contains more CholineCholine	+∞%

Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A	+10.5%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2	+235.6%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3	+81.2%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6	+338.2%

~equal in Vitamin C ~50mg

~equal in Vitamin D ~0µg

~equal in Vitamin B5 ~mg

~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0µg

~equal in Folate ~274µg

Minerals

Thyme can be considered the winner in the mineral category. It provides 4 times more iron and is richer in calcium, zinc, and copper. Thyme is also somewhat lower in sodium.

On the other hand, tarragon is 4 times richer in potassium and has more magnesium and phosphorus.

The two provide nearly equal amounts of selenium and manganese.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Dried thyme

Tarragon

Contains more CalciumCalcium	+65.9%
Contains more IronIron	+282.7%
Contains more CopperCopper	+27%
Contains more ZincZinc	+58.5%
Contains less SodiumSodium	-11.3%

Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium	+57.7%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium	+271%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus	+55.7%

~equal in Manganese ~7.967mg

~equal in Selenium ~4.4µg

Glycemic Index

Due to the difficulty of consuming large portions of these spices, exact numbers for their glycemic index values have not yet been calculated.

However, tarragon has been studied to lower the glycemic index of the food it's used along with (3).

Health Impact

Antioxidant Effects

Thyme and tarragon are known for their strong antioxidant qualities. By helping neutralize harmful free radicals, antioxidants help prevent various cardiovascular diseases.

The antioxidant effects of these spices are mainly attributable to their abundance of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. They are connected to their capacity to function as free radical scavengers and oxidative enzyme inhibitors (4, 5).

Anti-inflammatory Effects

Thyme and its extracts have traditionally been used to treat inflammatory disorders worldwide, and numerous studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory qualities through various mechanisms (4).

Similarly, tarragon has been researched for its anti-inflammatory qualities and pain-killing, immunomodulatory, and antidepressant effects (6).

Antibacterial Effects

Tarragon and thyme oils have antibacterial effects against resistant strains of some bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Research shows that tarragon oil is effective against Staphylococcus aureus and E.Coli (6). Thyme oil also protects against Enterococcus and Pseudomonas bacteria (7).

Cardiovascular health

Antioxidant Content: Dried thyme has stronger antioxidants like thymol, carvacrol, and rosmarinic acid than dried tarragon. This makes thyme better at reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, which helps prevent atherosclerosis, the main cause of coronary heart disease.

Blood Pressure Regulation: Both herbs help regulate blood pressure, but thyme offers added benefits because its active compounds, like thymol and carvacrol, can relax blood vessels and lower arterial blood pressure (8).

LDL Cholesterol Levels: While both herbs help lower LDL ("bad" cholesterol) levels, thyme may be more effective due to its higher fiber content and the presence of rosmarinic acid (9).

Including these herbs in your diet can promote cardiovascular health by reducing inflammation and helping control blood pressure.

References

Author name: Ani Harutyunyan

Education: General Medicine at YSMU

Last updated: July 25, 2024

Medically reviewed by Victoria Mazmanyan

Infographic

Infographic link

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Dried thyme

Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 2.73 g

Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.47 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.19 g

Tarragon

Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 1.881 g

Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.474 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 3.698 g

Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat	-31.1%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat	+210.8%

~equal in Monounsaturated Fat ~0.474g

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.


Lower in Sugar
Lower in Saturated Fat
Lower in Sodium
Lower in Glycemic Index
Lower in price
Lower in Cholesterol	Equal
Rich in minerals	Equal
Rich in vitamins	Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient			Opinion
Calories	276kcal	295kcal
Protein	9.11g	22.77g
Fats	7.43g	7.24g
Vitamin C	50mg	50mg
Net carbs	26.94g	42.82g
Carbs	63.94g	50.22g
Magnesium	220mg	347mg
Calcium	1890mg	1139mg
Potassium	814mg	3020mg
Iron	123.6mg	32.3mg
Sugar	1.71g
Fiber	37g	7.4g
Copper	0.86mg	0.677mg
Zinc	6.18mg	3.9mg
Phosphorus	201mg	313mg
Sodium	55mg	62mg
Vitamin A	3800IU	4200IU
Vitamin A	190µg	210µg
Vitamin E	7.48mg
Manganese	7.867mg	7.967mg
Selenium	4.6µg	4.4µg
Vitamin B1	0.513mg	0.251mg
Vitamin B2	0.399mg	1.339mg
Vitamin B3	4.94mg	8.95mg
Vitamin B6	0.55mg	2.41mg
Vitamin K	1714.5µg
Folate	274µg	274µg
Choline	43.6mg
Saturated Fat	2.73g	1.881g
Monounsaturated Fat	0.47g	0.474g
Polyunsaturated fat	1.19g	3.698g
Tryptophan	0.186mg
Threonine	0.252mg
Isoleucine	0.468mg
Leucine	0.43mg
Lysine	0.207mg
Valine	0.502mg

Which food is preferable for your diet?

Low Calories diet

Low Fats diet

Low Carbs diet

Low Glycemic Index diet

is better in case of low diet


Low Calories diet
Low Fats diet
Low Carbs diet
Low Glycemic Index diet

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Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).

Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score

423%

132%

Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

703%

360%

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Sugar?

Tarragon is lower in Sugar (difference - 1.71g)

Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?

Tarragon is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.849g)

Which food contains less Sodium?

Dried thyme contains less Sodium (difference - 7mg)

Which food is lower in glycemic index?

Dried thyme is lower in glycemic index (difference - 0)

Which food is cheaper?

Dried thyme is cheaper (difference - $6)

Which food contains less Cholesterol?

The foods are relatively equal in Cholesterol (0 mg)

Which food is richer in minerals?

It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

Which food is richer in vitamins?

It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.