When we visited Zanzibar, one of the things I remember was the spice tour. Up until that stage my main acquaintance with spices was the ones purchased at the supermarket. It was a bit of an eye-opener learning where some of the spices came from.
Thirteen Types of Spices
1. All Spice – the dried berries of an evergreen tree that’s native to the West Indies. It’s used in baking and the whole berries can be used in stews or casseroles.
2. Cardamom – these pods can be used whole or ground and is used to flavor spiced vegetable dishes and pilafs. It’s used in Indian ice cream and the Middle Eastern Halva.
3. Cloves – are dried flower buds. They’re delicious with stewed apple /apple pie.
4. Cinnamon – made from dried bark. It’s mainly used in cakes and biscuits. Cinnamon toast is yummy.
5. Ginger – the root of a flowering plant that’s native to China. The root is used fresh and grated or it can be dried to a powder. I use the fresh ginger in savory dishes and the powder in sweet dishes.
6. Nutmeg – dried kernel of an apricot-like fruit. It’s often used in sweet dishes, but it goes great with vegetables and rice.
7. Tamarind – the dried fruit of the tamarind tree. It’s used in curries and Indian dishes. I love tamarind sauce with samosa.
8. Vanilla – snake-like pods of a climbing orchid. They’re very expensive to purchase. Vanilla goes great with fruit dishes, custards and milk desserts.
9. Turmeric – it’s also a root or rhizome like ginger and it’s a bright gold color. It’s used in Indian cooking and the British add it to their piccalilli (piquant pickle).
10. Poppy seeds – widely used in Indian and Jewish cooking. It’s often sprinkled on top of bread. Don’t ever drop these because they take ages to clean up!!
11. Peppercorns – They come in different colors but black are the most common. I have a pepper grinder and use it liberally on savory dishes.
12. Cumin seeds – come from a plant related to the parsley family. The seeds are best roasted before use. It’s used in curries and savory vegetable dishes.
13. Soldier of Fortune—it’s a spicy contemporary tale written by Shelley Munro and it’s coming out next week on Nov 18 at Ellora’s Cave. Read the blurb and an excerpt here. You might have met the hero Louie in Summer in the City of Sails.
What is your cooking favorite spice?
Related posts:
Hi Shelley :)
by RKCharron November 12th, 2009 at 3:18 amThank you for the great post.
I don’t cook but I like the smell of cinnamon.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
I love the way you finished up. Very clever. I keep cinnamon and cloves all over the house at this time of the year.
Thursday Thirteen – Me & Music
by Nessa November 12th, 2009 at 3:58 am1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 makes the home smell soooooo deliciously comforting too.
My 13 is posted…I’m talking Turkey today. It’s posted below my Thursday Thunks, so if you can find time to visit, just scroll down a bit!!
Click HERE
by Hootin' Anni November 12th, 2009 at 4:12 amMmmmm… I make my own chai with a lot of these spices – but I have to leave out the cinnamon because I’m allergic to it.
This is my favorite time of year, but I have to spend a lot of time asking people “Does this have cinnamon in it?” when we see friends for dinner or go out to eat. LOL!
Happy TT!
by MsMenozzi November 12th, 2009 at 4:15 amCiao!
A spice tour? That’s new to me but sounds like something I would do. A favorite right now is rosemary.
by jillconyers November 12th, 2009 at 4:30 amThat last one sounds incredibly spicy.
by Ella Drake November 12th, 2009 at 5:05 am;)
You know, I use some of these but didn’t know where they came from. Very cool. We even discussed where All Spice came from a week or so ago. Thanks for info!
There’s nothing quite like fresh spices. I always wanted a window herb garden. Great list. Happy T13!
by Adelle Laudan November 12th, 2009 at 6:11 amDoes garlic count as a spice?
My husband loves garlic, so honestly, that is what I use most if at all possible.
by Amy M November 12th, 2009 at 6:24 amI would love to go on a spice tour! I think that sounds fascinating. I love to cook and would probably pick nutmeg.
by Inez Kelley November 12th, 2009 at 6:38 amGreat list. I did not know a few of those.
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/11/does-bubble-gum-lose-its-flavor-on.html
by Harriet November 12th, 2009 at 7:13 amGreat list…..this almost makes me want to cook something……..! Happy TT and good luck with the book :)
by Tracie November 12th, 2009 at 7:34 amGreat list, I have all of the first 12 and more in my collection. Since we don’t use salt how I season food has become even more important, though it was always a bit of an obsession. I don’t know that I have a favorite, but we do love fresh ginger and a good curry blend.
by Calico Crazy November 12th, 2009 at 8:08 amoh, fun. I cook a lot, so I love spices. One of my faves, not on the list, is coriander.
I think cardamom is underused. I use it in baked goods all the time – anyplace you’d use a spice combination in baking (pie, muffins, etc.) I often put cardamom in the mix.
This morning I have pumpkin butter going. Spices in that include: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, mace, allspice, cloves.
by Elise Logan November 12th, 2009 at 8:09 amSlick way to end it, babe! I was going to say yup, I’m familiar with all these spices… and yeah, I know OF your book, but I’ve yet to cook with it (but you can say that about Tamarind, too).
by Susan Helene Gottfried November 12th, 2009 at 8:58 amI love spices and reading about them. This was a fun post to read! My favorite spice store is The Spice House, http://www.thespicehouse.com. They are incredible – high quality and lots of education on their site. Fun stuff.
by A. Catherine Noon November 12th, 2009 at 9:08 amCardamom in ice-cream? Hmmmm…..
by Alice Audrey November 12th, 2009 at 9:14 amWooHoo! I can’t wait for the release!
by Jennifer Leeland November 12th, 2009 at 9:42 amAnd I love when you do awesome posts like this.
LOL, loved #13, I might have to pick me up some. ;) Great list.
Happy T13
by Chris November 12th, 2009 at 9:52 amOh, baby! That one looks good!
by Amy W. November 12th, 2009 at 11:24 amOh, and now I’m hungry!
by Amy W. November 12th, 2009 at 11:25 amMmm…cinnamon. Love that smell! The two I’ve used a lot in cooking recently are paprika and cumin. Also love Mrs. Dash Original for adding flavor to potatoes and meats without using salt.
by Heather November 12th, 2009 at 1:16 pmI love, love, love cinnamon
I use it in all kinds of things; stews, sweet potatoe yams, you name it 
I love the smell of chai too 
by LisaG November 12th, 2009 at 1:42 pmLOL I’m glad you enjoyed my spicy addition. I thought it was clever.
Besides, I need all the promo I can get on this title. I didn’t realize it was coming out so quickly.
The Body Shop has a lovely nutmeg and vanilla body butter out specially for Christmas. I snapped it up before they sold out.
by Shelley Munro November 12th, 2009 at 5:41 pmAmy M – my husband likes garlic too. He puts it in everything and this year, he grew some in the garden.
by Shelley Munro November 12th, 2009 at 5:42 pmTerrific 13. I’m imagining smelling these. My favorite spice depends on my mood. Love cinnamon, vanilla, and also adore garlic!
by Gel November 12th, 2009 at 7:21 pmI love cinnamon, especially on toast.
by Linda Henderson November 12th, 2009 at 10:26 pmI love cinnamon toast. I had the pleasure of introducing this lovely breakfast food to my daughter’s foreign exchange student/Indonesian friend. She look at it for a moment, then watched my daughter eat one, then tried it herself.
She loved it.
Happy TT.
by Janice Seagraves November 13th, 2009 at 1:14 amJanice~
Spicy books and spices..what could be better.
by Mary November 13th, 2009 at 2:03 pmYou are a font of information, Shelley.
Vanilla and cinnamon…can’t live without them.
by N.J. Walters November 14th, 2009 at 3:01 pm