A free world guide to spices and blends
Every spice in the world, from every kitchen.
Pepper and turmeric, saffron and sumac, garam masala and ras el hanout: what each one is, where it grows, how it is used at every meal, how it is held sacred, and the days that call for it.
- 306
- spices so far
- 67
- blends, drawn
- 97
- spice cities and markets
- 394
- on our list to write
Spice of the day, Monday 5 OctoberMitmitaA fiery Ethiopian spice blend of bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and cloves.🇪🇹 Ethiopia, heat 4 of 5
SesameRas el hanoutAjí pancaKampot sea saltPeperoncinoShishito pepperHúng lìuMugwortBlack mustardPink peppercornAjí dulceMustard seedCapsicum recurvatumCeylon cinnamonIndian bay leafFish pepperFenugreekEr jing tiaoBay LaurelKashmiri red chilliSaigon cinnamonCheongyang chili pepperCalabash nutmegKorean brining saltBlack cardamomBlack Pearl pepperBay leafChammanthi podiShitoAjí amarilloEast Indian arrowrootChar magazSiling labuyoGalbanumFleur de selRecado rojoMuñaVanillaBird's eye chiliWhorled savoryKosher saltRice paddy herbAdviehKaffir limePineapple sageIndonesian bay leafGarlic powderMostardaPilpelchumaXiao Mi La PepperKhao khuaCreole mustardVanillaCanellaChinese prickly-ashHouttuyniaAlligator pepperRamanathapuram Mundu chilliCommon prickly ashSeasoned saltTimurChinese cassiaIndonesian cinnamonRocotoDijon mustardMerkénJalapeñoCalifornian white sageCurry powderPaprikaSesameRas el hanoutAjí pancaKampot sea saltPeperoncinoShishito pepperHúng lìuMugwortBlack mustardPink peppercornAjí dulceMustard seedCapsicum recurvatumCeylon cinnamonIndian bay leafFish pepperFenugreekEr jing tiaoBay LaurelKashmiri red chilliSaigon cinnamonCheongyang chili pepperCalabash nutmegKorean brining saltBlack cardamomBlack Pearl pepperBay leafChammanthi podiShitoAjí amarilloEast Indian arrowrootChar magazSiling labuyoGalbanumFleur de selRecado rojoMuñaVanillaBird's eye chiliWhorled savoryKosher saltRice paddy herbAdviehKaffir limePineapple sageIndonesian bay leafGarlic powderMostardaPilpelchumaXiao Mi La PepperKhao khuaCreole mustardVanillaCanellaChinese prickly-ashHouttuyniaAlligator pepperRamanathapuram Mundu chilliCommon prickly ashSeasoned saltTimurChinese cassiaIndonesian cinnamonRocotoDijon mustardMerkénJalapeñoCalifornian white sageCurry powderPaprika
Live, Monday 5 October
What is cooking, by meal
Pick a meal: the spices reached for at breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper and snack time. Opens at the meal nearest your clock.
Spiced porridges, eggs, chai, upma and the first meal of the day. All breakfast spices
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreCardamom
The small, aromatic seed pods of tropical plants used for sweet and savory dishes.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 5 moreCinnamon
The dried inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, prized for its sweet warmth and essential oil.Bark · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇦🇹 Austria and 5 moreCaraway
The crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family herb, used to flavour breads and spirits.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Anise and liquorice
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreNutmeg
The dried seed of a tropical evergreen tree, prized for its warm, pungent flavor.Seed · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස්
A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart
Thalis, rice plates, stews and sandwiches: the midday meal. All lunch spices
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇵🇪 Peru and 5 moreChili pepperchīlli
The pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreFennel
The anise-scented seeds and crisp bulb of a Mediterranean perennial herbSeed · Anise and liquorice · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreBasil
A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreParsley
A bright green herb from the celery family, used fresh across Europe and the Middle East.Leaf · Bitter · Herbal and green
🇦🇹 Austria and 5 moreCaraway
The crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family herb, used to flavour breads and spirits.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Anise and liquorice
The main meal of the evening: curries, roasts, braises and grills. All dinner spices
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreCardamom
The small, aromatic seed pods of tropical plants used for sweet and savory dishes.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇵🇪 Peru and 5 moreChili pepperchīlli
The pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreFennel
The anise-scented seeds and crisp bulb of a Mediterranean perennial herbSeed · Anise and liquorice · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreBasil
A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreParsley
A bright green herb from the celery family, used fresh across Europe and the Middle East.Leaf · Bitter · Herbal and green
The light, late meal: soups, flatbreads and leftovers brought back to life. All supper spices
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇯🇴 Jordan and 5 moreBaharatبهارات
A versatile Middle Eastern spice blend used to season meats and soups.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇫🇷 FranceSel gris
A coarse, moist sea salt harvested from the bottom of French salt pans.Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
Spiced nuts, crisps, fritters, chaat and everything eaten between meals. All snack spices
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreFennel
The anise-scented seeds and crisp bulb of a Mediterranean perennial herbSeed · Anise and liquorice · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreBasil
A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 5 moreCinnamon
The dried inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, prized for its sweet warmth and essential oil.Bark · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreParsley
A bright green herb from the celery family, used fresh across Europe and the Middle East.Leaf · Bitter · Herbal and green
🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreTarragon
A slender perennial herb with anise-scented leaves used in French sauces and Caucasian drinks.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Herbal and green
On now and next
The days that call for spice
Harvests, festivals, feasts and fasts, with the spices each one needs. Today is also Monday.
In 3 days, about 8 Oct 2026MehreganThe autumn festival of friendship and harvest, with saffron rice, barberry and pomegranate.
In 6 days, 11 to 19 Oct 2026Navratri fasting foodNine nights of fasting, when rock salt, cumin, green chilli and black pepper replace the usual spice box.
In 6 days, 11 to 25 Oct 2026DashainNepal's biggest festival: tika, family reunions and goat curry thick with ginger, garlic and timur.
In 10 days, about 15 Oct to 11 Feb 2027Zanzibar clove harvestFrom July to December, Pemba and Unguja pick the flower buds of the clove tree, climbing tall trees by hand.By region
Eleven regions of the world, from the Malabar coast to the Spice Islands, the souks of the Maghreb and the markets of Oaxaca.
South AsiaThe great spice garden: pepper and cardamom from the Malabar coast, chilli, turmeric and the masalas that hold a thousand kitchens together.75 spicesSoutheast AsiaThe Spice Islands of cloves and nutmeg, and the pastes of lemongrass, galangal, chilli and shrimp that anchor the cooking of the region.35 spicesEast AsiaSichuan pepper, star anise and five-spice, gochugaru, shichimi and wasabi: seasoning built on pastes, ferments and the numbing peppercorn.34 spicesCentral Asia and the CaucasusCaravan country: cumin and barberry in the plov of Uzbekistan, and the walnut, coriander and marigold blends of Georgia.5 spicesMiddle EastSumac, za'atar, baharat, saffron and dried lime: the old crossroads where Asian spices met the Mediterranean.30 spicesNorth AfricaRas el hanout, harissa, preserved lemon and the souks of Marrakech, Tunis and Cairo.4 spicesSub-Saharan AfricaBerbere and mitmita, grains of paradise, uziza, suya spice, Zanzibar cloves and Madagascar vanilla.14 spicesEuropePaprika and caraway, herbes de Provence, mulled-wine and gingerbread spices, and the ports that once ran the spice trade.28 spicesNorth AmericaOld Bay, Cajun and Creole seasoning, barbecue rubs, pumpkin spice and the native herbs and berries of the continent.24 spicesLatin America and the CaribbeanThe home of chilli, vanilla, allspice and annatto: mole, jerk, adobo, aji and the pimento islands.52 spicesOceaniaWattleseed, lemon myrtle, native pepperberry and kawakawa, with vanilla and the Pacific kitchen.5 spices
See a few
A different handful every few minutes.
🇮🇳 IndiaKashmiri red chilliकश्मीरी लाल मिर्च
A mild Capsicum annuum cultivar prized for its deep red colour and low heat.Chilli · Earthy and deep
🇸🇾 Syria and 1 moreAleppo pepperفلفل حلبي
A moderately spicy, fruity flake from Syria and Turkey, named for the city of Aleppo.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇺🇸 United StatesKosher salt
Coarse edible salt used for dry brining and general cooking, typically free of iodine.Sharp and pungent
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreTemulawak
The rhizome of a Javanese ginger relative, used for its earthy flavour and traditional wellness drinks.Root · Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇬🇳 Guinea and 5 moreGrains of paradise
The pungent, citrus-tinged seeds of a West African ginger relative.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇵🇹 Portugal and 4 moreRosemary
A fragrant Mediterranean shrub with needle-like leaves used for seasoning and remembranceHerbal and green
🇬🇭 Ghana and 5 morePrekeseprɛkɛsɛ
The scented pod of a West African tree, used to perfume soups.Fruit · Sweet and mellow
🇹🇭 Thailand and 3 moreThai basilโหระพา
A Southeast Asian herb with purple stems and anise notes, used in curries and soups.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Hot and fiery
Blends, step by step
A masala is a mixture. Each blend is drawn as a ring of its parts, and made in frames: toast, grind, blend, temper, store.
🇮🇳 🇵🇰 Regional blendsTandoori masalaA red marinade blend for food cooked in a clay oven, bright with paprika or Kashmiri chilli.🇳🇬 🇬🇭 🇳🇪 Rubs and barbecueSuya spice (yaji)The groundnut and chilli rub of Hausa suya, the roadside grilled meat of northern Nigeria.🇺🇸 Rubs and barbecueCajun seasoningA Louisiana blend of paprika, cayenne, garlic, onion and oregano.🇵🇷 🇩🇴 🇨🇺 Rubs and barbecueAdobo seasoningA Caribbean and Latin American all-purpose dry rub of garlic, oregano and pepper.🇳🇱 🇧🇪 🇩🇪 Sweet and baking blendsSpeculaas spice (speculoos)The Dutch and Belgian biscuit blend of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and white pepper.🇩🇪 Sweet and baking blendsLebkuchen spice (Lebkuchengewuerz)The German gingerbread blend of cinnamon, clove, coriander, anise and cardamom.🇮🇳 🇵🇰 🇧🇩 Regional blendsGaram masalaThe 'warming' finishing blend of the north, built on cardamom, cinnamon, clove and cumin.🇮🇳 🇵🇰 Regional blendsChaat masalaA tart, salty, savoury powder built on amchur and black salt, shaken over snacks and fruit.
By part of the plant
Seed, bark, root, flower, pod or leaf: what is dried for the jar.
SeedsCumin, coriander, mustard, fennel, nigella and sesame: small and hard, toasted whole or ground fresh.39BarksCinnamon and cassia, rolled and dried from the inner bark of tropical trees.9Roots and rhizomesTurmeric, ginger, galangal and horseradish: dug, boiled, dried and ground, or used fresh.22Flowers and budsCloves, capers, saffron's crocus, rose and lavender: picked as buds or blooms and dried.8Fruits and berriesBlack pepper, allspice, star anise, juniper, sumac and tamarind: dried fruit that carries the flavour.41Chillies and podsCapsicum in every heat and colour, and the pods of cardamom and vanilla.63
By flavour
Hot, warm, citrus, smoky, floral, numbing and more.
Hot and fieryChilli heat that builds and lingers: capsaicin in its many strengths.119Warm and sweet-spicedCinnamon, clove, nutmeg and allspice: the warmth of baking and mulled drinks.72Sweet and mellowVanilla, liquorice, paprika and fennel: soft, round and gentle.85Earthy and deepCumin, turmeric and fenugreek: the low, savoury base of a curry.70Citrus and brightCoriander seed, sumac, lemongrass and lime leaf: lemony and lifted.54Sharp and pungentMustard, horseradish, wasabi and black pepper: the bite that reaches the nose.146
Sacred and celebrated
Spice in worship, weddings, births, harvests and the new year.
Hindu 21Buddhist 7Jain 3Muslim 11Jewish 19Christian 12Sikh 3Zoroastrian 3Shinto and Taoist 3Indigenous and folk 15Ayurveda and traditional medicine 25Other traditions 3
Weddings 5Festivals 19Birth and childhood 5Funerals and remembrance 5Harvest and trade 1New year 4Hospitality 12Everyday use 80
The words
221 terms in plain language.
Spice news
- Saffron In The Cold Desert? Ladakh Is Putting 90,000 Iranian Corms To The TestNDTV Profit, Harvest
- Uttar Pradesh Gears Up To Become Global Hub For Spice Processing & ExportsFree Press Journal, Markets
- Why 100 UP Farmers Are Growing Turmeric to Reduce Elephant Crop RaidsThe Better India, Harvest
- Kashmir Squanders SaffronKashmir Observer, Harvest
- Chesapeake Chili Crisp? A DC-Area Chef Is Putting Unexpected Spins on the Condiment.Washingtonian, Chilli
- Red Gold In Cold Desert: Iranian Corms Take Root As Ladakh Begins Saffron Farming Under 'Him Sarovar'ETV Bharat, Harvest
- Spice market update: cumin continues its upward trendMundus Agri, Trade
The world map
Spice cities, markets, ports and growing areas, marked on the world.
Newly added
🇩🇪 Germany and 4 moreHops
The green female flower cones of a climbing vine, used to bitter and flavour beer.Flower · Bitter · Sharp and pungent
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreJalapeño
A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar from Mexico known for its green pods and moderate heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreMustard seed
Tiny seeds from three Brassica plants that create pungent condiments and cooking oil.Seed · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇸🇻 El Salvador and 1 moreBalsam of Peru
A dark, sweet resin from a Central American tree, used for flavoring and fragrance.Resin · Sweet and mellow
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Parsley: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Clove: Bayu Nugroho, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Basil: Castielli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cinnamon: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chili pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mitmita: Caffe Vita, CC BY 2.0, source
- Jalapeño: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Grains of paradise: Lemmikkipuu, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tarragon: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Prekese: NMNH, CC0, source
- Caraway: Slick, CC0, source
- Fennel: Elekes Andor, CC BY 4.0, source
- Kashmiri red chilli: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Balsam of Peru: Maša Sinreih in Valentina Vivod, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mustard seed: Novalis at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hops: LuckyStarr, CC BY 2.5, source
- Lunumiris: Yasith Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Temulawak: Ariyanto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Nutmeg: Herusutimbul, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Thai basil: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Aleppo pepper: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Kosher salt: Lexlex, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sel gris: Stéphane Gourichon, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rosemary: Miguel Angel Masegosa Martínez, CC BY 2.0, source
- Black pepper: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cardamom: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Navratri Vrat Food: Mukerjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dashain Nepal: Unknown author, CC0, source
- Mehregan: PersianDutchNetwork, CC BY-SA 3.0, source