MarnaMaria Spices & Herbs Za'atar Spice Middle Eastern Herb Blend This herb and tangy flavored blend is perfect for dipping with olive oil and bread Za'atar seasoning comes from the Arabic word for thyme. This tangy mixture combines dried thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, and other spices and herbs to create its distinctive flavor. Different countries throughout the Middle East have varying blends. Travelers to the Middle East can find Za'atar in everything: croissants, breakfast scrambled eggs, and even beer. Za'atar can be used in many dishes but is commonly eaten on its own with bread and oil, referred to as "ziet and za'atar." Here, one first dips their flatbread into oil and then into the dried za'atar spice.