Spice Dictionary

Spice Dictionary

Aniseed
An aromatic Mediterranean herb in the parsley family, aniseed is cultivated for its seed-like fruits and oil and used to flavor foods, liqueurs, and candies. Both the leaves and seed have a sweet licorice flavor, which combines nicely with a variety of confections as well as savory foods like sauerkraut and duck.

Did You Know: Aniseed can help ease colic in babies.

Spice Dictionary

Bay Leaf
This dried leaf of the laurel or the bayberry helps flavor soups, stews, vegetables and meats.

Did You Know: The branches of the bay tree were used as wreaths to crown the victors after battles in ancient Greece and Rome.

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Caraway Seed
Caraway seeds are the aromatic seed-like fruit of a plant that comes from the parsley family. With a nutty and delicate flavor, these seeds are used to flavor foods like cheese, breads, cakes, stews, meats and vegetables. They should be stored airtight in a cool, dark place for no more than 6 months.

Did You Know: Caraway helps with digestive problems and diarrhea.

Spice Dictionary

Cardamom
The aromatic seed capsules of a tropical Asian plant of the ginger family, cardamom has a strong, spicy-sweet flavor. It's best used as a spice or condiment in foods like pickles, barbecue sauces and curries. Only use a pinch because this spice packs a powerful punch.

Did You Know: If you chew cardamom seeds, you can disguise the smell of alcohol on your breath. Cardamom is also believed to bring about clear thinking.

Spice Dictionary

Cayenne Pepper
This hot, biting, orange-red to dark red condiment consists of the ground ripe fruits of any of several pungent varieties of the capsicum plant. Better known as red pepper, cayenne is great in chili and mixes well with pasta dishes.

Did You Know: Because of its tonic and disinfectant powers, cayenne was used in 19th century Britain as a remedy for fevers and acute infections.

Spice Dictionary

Celery Seed
The seed of wild celery, a plant from the parsley family, has a strong flavor and is often used to flavor soups, salads and various meat dishes from fish cakes to turkey.

Did You Know: Celery juice can be used as a gargle to combat hoarse throats.

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Chili Powder
A powdered seasoning mixture of dried chilies, garlic, oregano, cumin, coriander and cloves, chili powder heightens the flavor of foods like tuna and polenta.

Did You Know: Chili powder was supposedly created in 1802 by a German immigrant in New Braunfel, Texas, according to foodreference.com.

Spice Dictionary

Cinnamon
The aromatic inner bark of any of several East Indian trees belonging to the laurel family, this age-old spice comes in two varieties? Ceylon cinnamon, which is tan and mildly sweet in flavor and cassia, which is a dark, reddish brown color with a slightly bittersweet flavor. Cassia cinnamon is the most widely used of the two. Cinnamon works well in sweet dishes, but also adds flavor to savory dishes such as stews and curries.

Did You Know: In traditional Chinese medicines, cinnamon is prescribed to raise vitality, stimulate the circulation and help clear congestion.

Spice Dictionary

Cloves
Cloves come from the moderate-sized, symmetrical, red-flowered evergreen, which is widely cultivated in the tropics. These aromatic dried flower buds are sold whole or ground and used with such foods as sweet potatoes, beef and fruit.

Did You Know: Cloves are known for their antiseptic powers. Aromatherapy research shows that cloves have two to three times greater strength than carbolic acid.

Spice Dictionary

Coriander
An aromatic Eurasian herb in the parsley family, Coriander is cultivated for its edible fruits, leafy shoots and roots. Coriander leaves are commonly known as cilantro or Chinese parsley, which has a very pungent flavor. Best used in salads and as a flavoring in curry and soups, Coriander also works well in sweets like jams, hot chocolate and eggnog.

Did You Know: Coriander is the world's most popular herb.

Spice Dictionary