Archaeology of Herbs & Spices

WHAT IS CUMIN? A member of the parsley family, the seeds of this flowering plant are ground into a spice of the same name.  Tropical in nature, it grows up to a foot and a half (50 cm) in height with branches that have an elegant, spindly look to them.  Similar in appearance to caraway […]

WHAT IS CARAWAY? This flowering plant above ground is similar in appearance to a carrot (with fine, green leaves that branch out almost like dill).  Historically there’s been some confusion between this spice, fennel and cumin.  But that also means caraway is a great substitute for them (along with anise).  Caraway nicely complements other fresh […]

WHAT IS CHIPOTLE? This amazing spice is made from jalapeno peppers that are then smoked and dried out as a form of preservation.  The name itself is from the Aztec language Nahuatl meaning “smoked chili.”  Today chipotle is classified by how long these peppers have been smoked (Moritas and the longer smoked Mecos).  It can […]

WHAT ARE BAY LEAVES? Originally from modern day Turkey, these dried out green leaves are a popular addition to many Asian and Mediterranean recipes.  There are a handful of different plants from which “bay” leaves are commercially harvested.  In general the leaves are cooked in a recipe whole and then removed from the dish before […]

WHAT IS ARROWROOT? This starch is harvested from the tubers of the plant of the same name.  It’s been a hometown favorite in the Caribbean for over 7,000 years.  The term comes from its use in treating poison arrow wounds.  Apparently it was also a popular homeopathic remedy for scorpion stings and gangrene as well.  […]

WHAT IS NUTMEG? This spice is the tropical seed of an evergreen tree mostly native to Indonesia and the West Indies.  It’s not a nut (which is good news for people with tree nut allergies).  When the fruit ripens it’s only about 2 inches (5 cm) in size.  The flesh splits in half, revealing a […]

WHAT IS CINNAMON? This spice is ground from the dried inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree whose name sounds like a sci fi movie – “Cinnamomum.”   First popular in Egypt over 4,000 years ago, this spice has transcended being a mere flavor description and is now also a fancy way to say that something […]

WHAT IS PARSLEY? The Greeks originally called it “rock celery” due to its ability to grow out of rocky cliffs and stone walls.  This flowering plant is a culinary favorite and has a variety of names including in flat, curly, Italian, Chinese, coriander and cilantro.  In reality there are only 2 types of this herb, flat […]

WHAT ARE CHILI PEPPERS? Technically these are fruits from the nightshade family and so a close cousin of tomatoes and eggplants.  Originally from Central and South America, this popular ingredient in its dried form can be found all over the world.  They come in different sizes, colors and strength.  Its unique spiciness is due to […]

WHAT IS BASIL? One of the most popular herbs in Western cuisine, basil is also subject to a lot of misunderstandings.  Originally from Asian and Africa, it’s a member of the fragrant mint family.  Popular basil varieties include Genovese (sweet), Thai, holy and lemon.  However sweet is the type most often sold in stores today.  […]

WHAT IS BLACK GARLIC? This Korean delicacy is regular garlic that’s been cured under specific conditions resulting in a less pungent, sweeter taste.  Its texture is similar to that of a dried fig.  Much like with prosciutto or dry-aged steaks, the temperature and humidity are controlled during an aging period of weeks or even months.  […]

WHAT IS DILL? The name comes from the Norse word “to lull” (which was how it was used medicinally).  This herb is a member of the parsley family and can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) in height.  Also known as dill weed when dried, this aromatic plant is easy to grow and adds […]

WHAT IS ALLSPICE? One of the more misunderstood spices, it’s not a mix of ingredients like cloves or cinnamon.  Allspice is both the name of a type of evergreen and its unripe berries.  These flowering trees can grow up to 60 feet in height which is a good thing since over 5,000 berries are needed […]

WHAT IS CILANTRO? It is the Spanish name of the stem and green leaves of the coriander plant.  Also known as Chinese parsley, in other countries the generic name coriander is applied to the entire plant (a.k.a. no one knows what cilantro is).  The powdered spice coriander is made from the seeds and has a […]

WHAT IS GINGER? This flowering plant, originally from Asia, now grows around the world thriving in warmer climates. It’s also known as a “canoe plant” due to its hardiness among tribes migrating by boat.  The tuber or root of the ginger plant grows horizontally and so spreads outward from the stem itself.  It can grow […]

WHAT IS MACE? This relatively unknown tropical spice is actually harvested from the same plant as nutmeg.  This tree bears fruit with a pit inside.  Remove the pit from the flesh and you first see a brightly colored red or yellow and orange webbing.  Strip off these organic fishnet stockings from the outside of the […]

WHAT IS TARRAGON? Also known as estragon, it is sadly one of the lesser known aromatic herbs in cuisine.  This shrub is a member of the sunflower family and prized for its leaves.  The plant tends to reproduce by root division as opposed to seeds.   There are different varietals used in cooking including French, Russian, […]

WHAT IS ROSEMARY? This evergreen shrub from the warmer climates of Europe is highly aromatic and is actually related to mint!  The name comes from the Latin translation of “sea dew.” This was due to the myth that this plant grows best near the beach.  With its needle-shaped leaves, drought-resistant nature and tendency to ward […]

WHAT IS SAFFRON? Saffron is one of the most expensive spices around.  It can cost upwards of $10,000 USD per lb (half a kilo) for the good stuff.  The crocus flower’s stamen is the source of this spice.   Each plant only yields 3 stamens which need to be picked by hand and then dried (lowering […]

WHAT IS OREGANO? This ancient herb is known by many names, including mint, Spanish thyme and wild majoram.  The name is Greek in origin meaning “mountain joy.”  Served both fresh and dried, it’s striking aroma and strong flavor have become synonymous with pizza in the States.  In terms of varietals, Mexican has the most flavor […]