Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Where for art thou Marjoram?

by 31 Comments

I have one recipe that I make regularly that asks for marjoram. For years I had an old, square, metal can of it which honestly, if you were to check the expiration date, (I didn’t) would likely be way past fresh.

For months I’ve known I was low, and for the past several trips to the store I’ve been checking the spice aisle with no luck. Now I’m totally out.

Marjoram has been on my grocery list the majority of 2024.

Last time I made the recipe I threw in some Italian herbs as a replacement. Back in the day there was no such thing as Italian herbs, but I figured maybe it was close enough. To be honest I couldn’t tell the difference.

So now I wonder…what is marjoram anyway? And why can’t I find it?

Edit: I can get it on Amazon! Of COURSE! Still, this begs the question, why isn’t it in my grocery store?

Author: dawnkinster

I'm a long time banker having worked in banks since the age of 17. I took a break when I turned 50 and went back to school. I graduated right when the economy took a turn for the worst and after a year of library work found myself unemployed. I was lucky that my previous bank employer wanted me back. So here I am again, a long time banker. Change is hard.

31 thoughts on “Where for art thou Marjoram?”

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  1. shoreacres
    October 6, 2024 at 2:12 pm

    That’s really odd. I just picked some up at my store about 2-3 weeks ago. There were at least three choices. I don’t think we’re hoarding your marjoram, but that is odd. It could be computer related. One of our store managers told me that a product I loved disappeared because not enough people bought it. The great computer in the sky decided “no buyers, no stocking the shelves.”

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  2. Carol
    October 6, 2024 at 2:46 pm

    Online has become my go-to for a lot of things. I now buy larger packets of herbs and spices and refill bottles. I also have an inventory sheet of what I have extra of in the pantry, because I cannot rely on memory anymore.

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  3. Retirement Reflections
    October 6, 2024 at 2:58 pm

    Hi, Dawn – That is a great question about Marjoram. I haven’t looked for it recently but will do so when I am next in the grocery store to see if we are low here too. As a substitute, I usually use oregano. Marjoram is slightly sweeter and milder, so I adjust to taste. ❤

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  4. Debbie
    October 6, 2024 at 4:17 pm

    I’m glad you’re able to find it online — what would we do without Amazon?? I’m not sure I’ve got any marjoram in my spice collection either, but I’ve certainly heard of it. I guess people just use a substitute when they can’t find what they really want. And how sad is that??

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  5. Dale
    October 6, 2024 at 4:37 pm

    When in doubt, you can replace marjoram with oregano. Just use a tad less as marjoram is milder. That said, how weird that you cannot find any? I even have some in my herb garden 😉

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  6. Linda Schaub
    October 6, 2024 at 5:28 pm

    As I read this I was thinking “well I’ll bet it is on Amazon” – seriously is there anything we CAN’T get on Amazon anymore?

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  7. Linda Allen
    October 6, 2024 at 7:12 pm

    You’ve got us all curious; what are you cooking that needs marjoram?

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    • dawnkinster
      October 6, 2024 at 11:51 pm

      You remind me I promised to send the recipe to someone and I forgot to do it tonight. It’s just out of a “quick and easy” cookbook. As I remember (I’m in bed so don’t want to go dig it up right now) it has onions, carrots, small red potatoes quartered, sliced up Kielbasa or summer sausage or something along that line, stewed tomatoes, and right at the end some shredded cabbage, all cooked in my electric skillet. Though you could use a nonelectric skillet. 🙂 Oh…and it has marjoram.

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  8. Denise
    October 7, 2024 at 10:26 am

    Hi Dawn! This is very interesting. For the better part of a year I could not find Caraway seeds. Kroger, Publix, Target, Walmart – multiple locations of each store. Crazy. I ended up finding it at Penzey’s – the spice store. I bought 3 little jars. Is caraway seed grown in a country that we are at odds with? Who knows. Glad you found a good substitute. Nothing can replace the caraway seeds on a pork roast and in sauerkraut. 😋

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  9. Ally Bean
    October 7, 2024 at 1:26 pm

    I wonder about how some herbs and spices just cease to be in the grocery store. It’s a mystery. We order online lots of herbs, spices, and blends from Penzey’s. They have a great selection.

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  10. sara
    October 8, 2024 at 5:50 pm

    I had a blast reading through these comments! Never bought marjoram, but now know I can just use my oregano if I ever see marjoram in a recipe.

    Thanks everyone!

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  11. Angelika Rashkow
    November 6, 2025 at 7:37 am

    Majoram is a spice in many wonderful recipes and dishes and essential to prepare these.

    Do not make it available at grocery stores is detrimental to good cooking and well living

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