Caraway is a plant in the carrot family, which is cultivated for its small fruits. The dry fruits, which look like seeds, are used as a spice. The roots of the plant can be used as a root vegetable and the leaves can be used as a herb, similar to parsley.
Capsicum chinense is species of chili pepper with several different varieties, including Habanero and Madame Jeanette.
Chili pepper Capsicum chinense Read More »
Capsicum frutescens is a species that includes several varieties of chili peppers: Piri piri, Malaguete pepper, Tabasco pepper, and Thai pepper.
Chili pepper Capsicum frutescens Read More »
True cardamom or Green cardamom is a plant in the ginger family. The green seed pods of the plant are dried and the seeds are used as a spice, sometimes whole but often as a ground powder. Cardamom is commonly used in Indian and other Asian food.
Allspice is the dried fruit of Pimenta dioica. It combines the smell and taste of several spices including cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper.
Cumin is a plant in the Apiaceae family, which makes it a relative of carrots and parsley.
Cumin seeds are used as a spice either whole or ground to a powder. It is used in the cuisines of various cultures.
Fenugreek seeds are used to prepare pickles and curry powders. Fenugreek is also used by lactating women to increase the supply of milk.
Sichian pepper is a spice. It has a flavor that is not hot or sharp like black pepper or chili peppers. Instead it creates a numbness on the tongue and lips, with a tingling, almost electrical sensation.
Thai long pepper is a vine in the pepper family (Piperaceae) and therefore related to black pepper (P. nigrum)and betel leaves (P. betle). It is native to South and Southeast Asia.
The fruits are used fresh or dried to give flavor to food. In Bangladesh the stems and roots are used as a spice which is cooked with mutton or in other meat and fish dishes.
Wasabi is a Japanese plant in the cabbage family and is related to cabbage, horseradish and mustard. It is grown for its root which is used as a spice often used in Japanese cuisine.
Bunium persicum is often confused with Nigella sativa because both plant species are called “black cumin”.
The dried fruits are used as a spice and also the tuber-like root is edible and can be used as a vegetable.
Black cumin (Bunium persicum) Read More »
There are two different species of plant that are called Black cumin which can create some confusion. Nigella sativa is an annual plant which originates from south and southwest Asia. The fruit is a capsule which contains many black seeds which are used as a spice.
Black cumin (Nigella sativa) Read More »
Grains of Paradise is the name of a plant in the ginger family, which originate from West Africa. The ground seeds are used as a spice. It has a peppery flavor and was therefore in Europe used as a black pepper substitute during the 14th and 15th century.
Grains of Paradise Read More »
Black pepper is the most important and most widely used spice in the world. It should not be confused with other 'peppers' such as chili peppers and bell peppers, which belong to the genus Capsicum.
Cinnamon is a spice made of the dried bark of the True cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon. It is a small evergreen tree which originates from Sri Lanka.
Names Scientific Cinnamomum cassiaSynonym Cinnamomum aromaticumEnglish Chinese cassia Chinese cinnamonDutch KaneelSpanish CassiaFrench Cannelier casse Cannelier de Chine Cannelle de Cochinchine Casse Cassia Fausse cannelleGerman Cassiazimt ZimtkassieItalian Cassia Taxonomy Genus CinnamomumFamily LauraceaeOrder Laurales Crop categories Spices Tropical crops Pictures
Names Scientific Cinnamomum loureiroiEnglish Saigon cinnamon Vietnamese cassia Vietnamese cinnamon Taxonomy Genus CinnamomumFamily LauraceaeOrder Laurales Crop categories Spices Tropical crops Pictures
Vietnamese cinnamon Read More »
Names Scientific Cinnamomum burmanniiEnglish Indonesian cinnamon Korintje Padang cassia Taxonomy Genus CinnamomumFamily LauraceaeOrder Laurales Crop categories Spices Tropical crops Pictures
Indonesian cinnamon Read More »
Capsicum is a genus of plants that includes several species of which the fruits are used as vegetables or spices. Some of these are hot peppers, while others are sweet peppers or bell peppers.
The species Capsicum annuum includes bell peppers (wich are not hot) and hot or vey hot chili peppers.
Bell peppers are found worldwide in areas with tropical or warm climate. The fruits can be eaten raw (e.g. in salads) or cooked (e.g. in stir-fried dishes).
Chili pepper Capsicum annuum Read More »
The pods of the Vanilla orchid are used to produce “vanilla”, a flavoring which can be used in ice cream, cookies and cakes.
This orchid originates from Central America. It can be grown in hot and wet tropical climates.
Star anise and anise have a similar flavor, but they are two very different and unrelated crops. Fruits of the star anise have of course a star shape.
Cloves are dried flower buds of a tree which originates from the Maluku islands in Indonesia. They are used all over the world, for example in beef stew.
Cloves are often mixed with other spices (e.g. cinnamon, allspice). Clove oil is used to relieve toothache.
The nutmeg tree is cultivated for its fruits which are used for two different spices: nutmeg and mace. Nutmeg is the seed of the tree, while mace is the reddish aril, a lace-like covering of the seed.
The dried stigmas of the flowers of the Saffron crocus are used as a spice and as a coloring agent in food, especially in Indian, Persian and European dishes. It is probably the most expensive spice in the world (by weight).
Names Scientific Sinapis albaEnglish White mustardDutch Witte mosterdSpanish Mostaza blancaFrench Moutarde blanche Sanve SénevéGerman Weißer SenfItalian Senape gialla Taxonomy Genus SinapisFamily BrassicaceaeOrder Brassicales Crop categories Spices Medicinal plants Temperate crops Pictures
Turmeric is usually used as a root powder. Turmeric powder is used as a spice in a lot in South Asian recipes.
Turmeric is sometimes used as a repellent to deter ants.
Parsley leaves are used as herbs. Especially the type with curly leaves is often used as garnish.
Within this species are several quite different varieties. There are two types of parsley grown for their leaves which are either flat or curly leaves. Another type of parsley is grown for its roots.
Names Scientific Origanum vulgareEnglish OreganoDutch Oregano Wilde marjoleinSpanish OréganoFrench OriganGerman OreganoItalian Origano Taxonomy Genus OriganumFamily LamiaceaeOrder Lamiales Crop categories Herbs Spices Medicinal plants Temperate crops Pictures
The roots of liquorice contain a compound (glycyrrhizin) which is 30 to 50 times sweeter than sugar.
Leaves of the kaffir lime are used fresh or dried as a herb or spice. The juice is very acidic.
Garlic probably originates from central and southwestern Asia. It is now found in most countries and climates, with highest production in China and India. It is a plant in the onions family and is close related to the onion, shallot, leek and chive. Garlic is usually used as a condiment in food, in combination with other vegetables or meats.
Names Scientific Foeniculum vulgareEnglish FennelDutch VenkelSpanish HinojoFrench FenouilGerman FenchelItalian Finocchio Taxonomy Genus FoeniculumFamily ApiaceaeOrder Apiales Crop categories Herbs Spices Medicinal plants Temperate crops Pictures
Coriander leaves are used fresh as a herb in many Asian dishes. The dry fruits of coriander (coriander seeds) are a spice often used in Indian dishes. but they can also be eaten as a snack. Coriander roots are sometimes used in Thai food.
Juniper berries are usually dried and used to flavour meats and sauces, and also to flavour gin.
Capsicum is a plant genus which includes several crop species (e.g. Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum chinense, Capsicum pubescens, Capsicum baccatum). Some of these species include various quite different varieties.
Plants in the Capsicum genus produce fruits that are used as vegetables or as spices.
Names Scientific Capsicum pubescensEnglish Locoto Rocoto Tree chiliSpanish Chile de cera Chile manzano Chile perón Locoto RocotoFrench Piment Piment rocoto RocotoGerman Baumchili Taxonomy Genus CapsicumFamily SolanaceaeOrder Solanales Crop categories Vegetables Fruit vegetables Herbs Spices Stimulants Food crops Tropical crops Subtropical crops Pictures
Chili pepper Capsicum pubescens Read More »
Names Scientific Capsicum baccatumEnglish Ají Bishop’s crown Brazilian starfish Lemon drop Peppadew Wild baccatumDutch AjiSpanish Ají amarillo Ají escabecheFrench Piment Taxonomy Genus CapsicumFamily SolanaceaeOrder Solanales Crop categories Vegetables Fruit vegetables Herbs Spices Stimulants Food crops Tropical crops Subtropical crops Pictures
Chili pepper Capsicum baccatum Read More »
The caper plant is grown for the edible flower buds, which are called capers. The caper bud can be salted and pickled and is then used as a spice for seasoning or as a garnish, often in Italian dishes.
Black mustard is a plant in the cabbage family. it is usually grown for its seeds, which are used as a spice or to produce cooking oil. Names Scientific Brassica nigraEnglish Black mustardDutch Zwarte mosterdSpanish Ajenabe Mostaza negraFrench Moutarde noire Sénevé noirGerman Schwarzer SenfItalian Senape nera Taxonomy Genus BrassicaFamily BrassicaceaeOrder Brassicales Basic information and facts Origin: Probably originates from the Mediterranean region of Europe. Distribution: Common in
Black cardamom is often used as a spice in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Vietnam and China.
Laurel originates from the Mediterranean region.
Laurel is a spice that is common in many Mediterranean recipes. The fresh or dried leaves are used in meet stews, but are removed before eating the dish. Ground bay leaves are used in soups.
Bay laurel is used to make a laurel wreath, which in ancient Greece was used to award winners of athletic competitions, such as the ancient Olympics.
