Spices are the basic requirements of the kitchen in every household around the world. If you are willing to settle down in the world of fine culinary arts or want to cook dishes to please everyone around, then this article is just right for you to learn about the list of spices.
The types and number of spices that you will ever need entirely depend on the type of cuisine which you intend to make. However, ginger, garlic, pepper, chilly, and onion are the basic spices that go into almost every type of dish in the world. One can enlist these as the essential spices.
One interesting fact about the spices is that different par of the herd is used as spices for each one of them. In some spices, fruits or buds are used whereas in some flowers or seeds are used. Similarly, in some spices, the bark or leaves are used as spices. However, somewhere all-different parts of the plant are used in form of spices in different ways such as onion, coriander, and fenugreek.
Spices can be categorized on the various basis as all impart different characteristics to the food. Some spices are aromatic, some are sour, some are sweet, and some are savory. Hence, their usage also varies on the basis of the aroma and flavor that they contain.
In this article, we present you with a list of different kinds of spices. Next time you are in your kitchen, check this list off to learn their essence and use them in your cooking.
List of Aromatic Spices:
Aroma is the factor that gives a kick to any food dish. One can indeed assure that the food which smells good tastes good too. In fact, people taste the food through their sense of smell before their taste buds. These aromatic spices also have their peculiar taste as well. Some aromatic spices like cloves, onion, and garlic are hot to taste whereas some have a pleasant mild taste such as nutmeg and cinnamon.
The aromatic spices are often used to extract essential oils as well as in the aromatic healing therapy because of their exceptional goodness.
Here is the list of some aromatic spices:
- Clove
- Cumin
- Nutmeg
- Fennel Seed
- Mace
- Cinamon
- Thyme
- Basil
- Bay Leaves
- Shallot
- Onion
- Garlic
- Marjoram
- Black and White Cardamom
- Dill Seed
List of Hot and Pungent Spices:
If you ever find that hot and pungent flavors in your food, then it indeed is those spices that elevate the hotness of the food. These savory spices give an unlikely but pleasing aroma along with being phenomenal to taste. However, not everyone can tolerate the hotness of a spice.
Some of the literally hot spices are:
- Black Pepper
- White Pepper
- Red pepper
- Chilies
- Mustard
- Szechuan Peppercorn
- Cloves
- Garlic
- Onion
List of Spices Leafy Spices:
Some of the leaves of the herbs are used as spices to cook as well as for dressing the food. These leaves add flavor and aroma to the food while making them look good while serving on a plate. The leafy spices are often used in Italian dishes.
Some of the leafy spices are:
- Basil
- Bay leaves
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Lemon Grass
- Marjoram
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Sage
- Savory
- Tarragon
- Coriander leaves
- Onion leaves
List of Spices whose Seeds are used:
The seeds of the spice herbs are often used as spices to food the food. In fact, some of these seeds are used as a whole, while some are ground to use as spices. The seeds are generally fried in oil to cook the dishes in many Indian and Nepali food dishes.
Some of the spices whose seeds are used are:
- Coriander seeds
- Cumin
- Dill seeds
- Fenugreek seeds
- Nutmeg
- Mustard
- Cardamom
- Poppy seeds
- Asafetida
- Sesame seeds
Spices whose Fruits or Berries are used:
There are several spice herbs whose fruits and berries are often used as spices rather than the other parts. These berries are plucked off after ripening and allowed to dry before using as spices. Some of these seeds are used as whole spices, whereas some are ground into the form of a powder.
Some of the spics whose fruits or berries are used are:
- Allspice
- Black Pepper
- Red Pepper
- Paprika
- Vanilla
- Star Anise
Besides, there are some spices whose flower, bud, or pistil are used in the cooking. Such spices are:
- Clove
- Lavender
- Saffron
Spices used in Sweet dishes and Bakeries:
There is a misconception that spices are used in cooking savory, salt, or curry dishes. However, in many parts of the world, spices are used for cooking sweet dishes and desserts. In fact, these spices are majorly used in making tea and bakery goods. The leafy spices and seeds are often used to make tea, such as mint, fennel seeds, cloves, cardamom, lemongrass, lavender, rosemary, basil, bay leaves, etc. Likewise, ginger is also a most used spice in tea.
Some of the spices used to make desserts, and other sweets are
- Cardamom
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Fennel seeds
- Nutmeg
- Star anise
- Allspice
- Lavender
- Black pepper
- Vanilla Beans
- Ground Ginger
- Saffron
These spices are used in powdered form in bakeries, whereas while cooking curries, these can also be used as whole spices as well. Cinnamon is a bark of the tree which is used as sliced pieces in curries, whereas it is ground into a powdered form to use in cakes.
The spices mentioned above aren’t found in all the places in the world; hence they are often dried, packed, and mixed with preservatives to sell them across the globe. You can find a range of these spices processed and packed by century foods in the market. Besides, the way how these spices are incorporated into the cuisine differed vaguely in the different cultures around the world.