Mint – An Aromatic Perennial Herb
Mint, a plant which is part of the Mentha genus and a close relative of basil and rosemary, belongs to a large family of herbs with hundreds of varieties. For the purposes of this culinary discussion we will be...
Garlic – A Potent and Pungent Aroma
Garlic, or Allium sativum, is a perennial plant in the Alliaceae (or lily) family and is closely related to the onion. It has been regarded as an invaluable kitchen and medicinal plant for thousands of years, and is one...
Cumin – Used for Millennia as a Medicinal Plant
Cumin, also known as cumin seed or cummin, is the dried, tiny seed of the Cuminum cyminum (a member of the carrot family), and is related to parsley. Native to Egypt and the warmer regions of the Mediterranean, cumin...
Basil – An Aromatic Herb in the Mint Family
Basil, part of the Ocimum genus, is an aromatic herb in the mint family. Native to warm climates like Africa and India, basils are a large group of herbs in and of themselves – there are over 150 species...
Chili Powder – Adding Heat and Flavor to your Food
Chili powder, made from the roasted and/or dried fruit of dozens of species in the Capsicum grouping, is a potent dust useful to many world cuisines. While chilies are native to South America, it is difficult to classify the...
Cooking with Herbs – Adding Flavor to your Food
More and more scientific research proves that cooking with herbs is not just important for taste; it’s also important for health. Herbs like curry, turmeric, basil, oregano, garlic and onions not only make a dish come alive but also...
Cardamom – One of the Top Three Most Expensive Spices in the World
Cardamom, the dried fruit/seeds of a large plant native to south India, is one of the top three most expensive spices in the world (saffron and vanilla rank with it). A member of the ginger family, cardamom can be...
Parsley – High in Vitamins A and C
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), a member of the carrot family and relative of dill and fennel, is easily one of the most important herbs in European cooking. It was once synonymous with celery in ancient Rome and has been on...
Nutmeg – Myristica fragrans
Nutmeg, or Myristica fragrans, is an evergreen tree in the Myristicaceae family. The tree actually produces two spices used in the culinary world: mace and nutmeg, nutmeg being the seed of the tree (which is found at the center...
Cooking with Spices – Trivia and Information
The right combination of spices can add serious flavor to a dish just as fast as the wrong combination of spices can destroy a dish. Cooking with spices doesn’t have to be a scientific dissertation, but a few general...
