Whats in spice?

Spice. A word with many meanings, from herbs and seasonings to the illicit substances some folks smoke for a good time.

But today, we’re talking about spice as it applies to cooking – those little vials of powders and leaves that make everything taste better. Whether you’re a five-star chef or just trying to add some pizzazz to your PB&J sandwich, you’ve probably wondered at some point: what exactly is in these spices?

Well, wonder no more! We’ve done the spicy research so you don’t have to.

The Basics

Before we dive into individual spices and their respective ingredients, let’s go over some general things you should know:

How are Spices Made?

Spices come from all sorts of plant parts – seeds (mustard), fruits (peppercorn), bark (cinnamon) – even roots (ginger). Generally speaking, once harvested they are dried or otherwise treated before being ground up into the form we see on our store shelves.

Some forms of spices might be ground right after harvesting while others require additional processing like roasting or soaking. This extra treatment can enhance flavor profiles but also increase costs significantly!

Spice Labels Deconstructed

You may have seen labels reading ‘100% Pure’ plastered across spice packaging. It sounds good right? But actually this kind of labelling does not follow any regulatory control process which means there’s no guarantee on its accuracy!
When purchasing spice products look for certifications such as USDA Organic.
Also note synthetic vs natural flavours; synthetics are made in larger quantities cheaper than organics.

Word Up

As food industry continues to innovate new buzzwords arise everywhere- adding further confusion among everyday shoppers:
Natural: Must contain ingrediants produced by nature,Organic: Can only be synthesized using certain organic methods, Non GMO: Free off any genetic modificationLocally sourced: the ingrediants could be coming from anywhere as ‘local’ does not possess a clear definition- watch out for crafty marketing strategies!

A (not so) Comprehensive List

Time to get into specifics: Here’s what you can expect to see on spice labels and in your food.

Allspice

This one gets its name because it kinda smells like a bunch of other spices all rolled up into one. Who needs cinnamon or nutmeg when you’ve got allspice?

Main Spices

Allspice

Anise Seed

True licorice fans will recognize the smell right away – anise seed tastes similar, with a hint of sweetness thrown in. It’s often used in baking, especially around Christmas.

Main Spices

Anise seed

Cardamom

A staple flavoring for chai tea, cardamom is also popular in Indian cuisine. These little pods pack a punch!

Main Spices

Cardamom

Cayenne Pepper

You don’t want to mess around with cayenne pepper if spicy isn’t your thing – this stuff brings the heat! But when used sparingly it adds just the right kick to chili or salsa.

Main Ingredients:

Cayenne pepper

Cinnamon

Don’t tell pumpkin spice, but we think cinnamon might be our fave fall flavor. From baked goods to coffee drinks – this stuff never goes out of style!

Main Spices:

Cinnamon

Cloves

When most folks hear “cloves,” they probably imagine sticking them inside an orange at Christmastime…but did you know that cloves are great for savory dishes too? Try using them in marinades next time you’re grilling chicken.

Main Ingredients:

Whole Cloves ground

### Coriander

Similar looking green herb stems where both leaves and seeds are edible. However ground corinder seed is more common than fresh leaves in cooking.

Main Ingredients:

Coriander

Cumin

This spice has a distinctive flavor that some might describe as “earthy” or even “smoky.” Try using it to add depth to soups and other dishes.

Main Ingredients

Cumin

And There’s More!

We won’t bore you with the exhaustive list of every spice under the sun, but here are few additional standouts:

  • Ginger (great for everything from tea to stir fries)
  • Nutmeg (adds warmth to baked goods)
  • Mustard Seed (essential in making – you guessed it – mustard!)
  • Turmeric: Hailed by health nuts world wide often found in Indian cuisine.

So there ya have it! Even if you don’t plan on making your own seasoning blends anytime soon, it’s nice knowing what actually goes into those little shakers sitting on your pantry shelf. Now go forth and spice up your life!

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