All spices
306 spices so far, best known first. 88 more are on the list to be written.
🇵🇪 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
🇱🇰 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
🇦🇹 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
🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreSaffronزعفران
The dried crimson stigmas of the autumn saffron crocus, prized for colour and aroma.Stigma · Bitter · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇩 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
🇷🇺 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
🇮🇳 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
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 3 moreCeylon cinnamon
The inner bark of a Sri Lankan evergreen, prized for its delicate, sweet spice.Bark · Sweet and mellow · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇬🇭 Ghana and 5 moreGrains of Selimdiarr
The dried fruit of a West African shrub, used as a peppery spice and coffee flavouring.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Bitter
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreAnnatto
The orange-red pigment from achiote seeds used as a natural food coloring and mild spice.Seed · Earthy and deep · Sweet and mellow
🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 morePoppy seed
The tiny kidney-shaped oilseed of the opium poppy, used in baking and cooking across Europe and South Asia.Seed · Earthy and deep
🇴🇲 Oman and 3 moreDried lime
Sun-dried limes from the Persian Gulf, used whole or ground to add sour depth to Middle Eastern dishes.Fruit · Sour and tart · Earthy and deep
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreZhugسحوق
A Yemeni hot sauce of crushed chilies, garlic, and corianderHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreMasticΜαστίχα
A bitter-sweet resin from the mastic tree, used in desserts and traditional medicine.Bitter · Sharp and pungent
🇧🇷 Brazil and 5 moreMalagueta peppermalagueta
A small, fiery chili from Capsicum frutescens used across Portuguese-speaking regions.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreIndian prickly ash
A pungent fruit from a thorny shrub, used for its tingling spice in coastal India and Vietnam.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Numbing and tingling
🇦🇺 AustraliaBush tomatokutjera
The dried fruit of a native Australian nightshade shrub, traditionally eaten by Aboriginal peoples.Fruit · Sweet and mellow · Earthy and deep
🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreShishito pepper獅子唐辛子 (Shishitōgarashi)
A slender East Asian chili that is mostly mild with occasional spicy surprises.Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇳🇵 Nepal and 2 moreDalle Khursaniडल्ले खुर्सानी
A round, fiery chilli from the Himalayas, known for its intense heat and vitamin content.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇳🇬 NigeriaYaji
A spicy rub from Nigeria made with chili, ginger, and ground peanuts.Blend · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇸🇰 SlovakiaPaprika Žitava
A sweet red spice from Slovakia's Danubian Lowland, ground with a special stone to release its colour.Seed · Sweet and mellow
🇺🇸 United StatesHabanaga pepper
A hot New Mexican chilli born from an accidental habanero and ghost pepper crossChilli · Hot and fiery
🇨🇳 ChinaYongfeng chili sauce永丰辣酱
A fermented paste of peppers, rice and wheat from Hunan province, one of the region's three treasures.Paste · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇱 IsraelNufar basil
A sweet basil variety bred in Israel to resist a deadly fungal wilt disease.Leaf · Sweet and mellow
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreGingermint
A sterile mint hybrid grown for essential oil and chewing gum flavour.Herbal and green · Sweet and mellow
🇲🇽 MexicoPineapple sage
A Mexican shrub with leaves that smell of pineapple and flowers that feed hummingbirdsLeaf · Citrus and bright · Sweet and mellow
🇹🇭 Thailand and 4 moreBenzoin resin
A sweet balsamic tree resin used in incense, perfumes, and traditional medicine.Resin · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 IndiaKala masala
A dark roasted spice blend from Maharashtra used for everyday home cooking.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry paste
A blended mixture of spices and aromatics used as the base for curries in Asia.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස්
A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart
🇱🇰 Sri LankaThuna pahaතුන පහ
A Sri Lankan unroasted curry powder made from cumin, fennel, and coriander seeds.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 IndiaChammanthi podi
A dry coconut and spice condiment from Kerala that preserves fresh chutney for months.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaKairकैर
The spicy pink berry and flower bud of a drought-hardy desert bushFruit · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreEast Indian arrowrootകൂവ
A wild South Asian ginger valued for its turmeric-scented foliage and starchy rhizome.Root · Earthy and deep · Herbal and green
🇮🇩 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
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreWild turmericKasthuri Manjal
A South Asian rhizome with a musky scent, used for colouring and skin care.Root · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreIndonesian bay leafdaun salam
The aromatic leaves of a Myrtaceae tree used to flavour soups and stews across Indonesia and Suriname.Leaf · Bitter
🇯🇵 JapanKarashiからし
A potent Japanese mustard made from brown mustard seeds, served as a sharp condiment.Seed · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇱🇦 Laos and 2 moreKhao khuaເຂົ້າຂົ້ວ
Dry-toasted sticky rice, ground rough, the nutty backbone of Lao laabSeed · Smoky
🇰🇭 CambodiaKroeungគ្រឿង
The pounded herb paste that gives Khmer dishes their base flavourPaste · Herbal and green · Hot and fiery
🇯🇵 JapanYuzu koshō柚子胡椒
A fermented Japanese paste of chili peppers and yuzu citrus peel.Paste · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright
🇨🇳 China and 2 moreChinese prickly-ash
A thorny East Asian shrub whose reddish berries yield Sichuan pepperFruit
🇮🇳 IndiaKewraकेवड़ा
A fragrant essential oil distilled from the male flowers of the screwpine plant.Resin · Sweet and mellow · Floral and perfumed
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreHilbehحلبة
A frothy Yemeni condiment made from ground fenugreek seeds and waterPaste · Bitter · Earthy and deep
🇱🇾 Libya and 1 morePilpelchumaפלפלצ'ומה
A steamed chili and garlic paste from Libyan Jewish cuisine, now common in Israel.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
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
- Basil: Castielli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cinnamon: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Saffron: Hubertl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chili pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Grains of Selim: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
- Tarragon: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Caraway: Slick, CC0, source
- Fennel: Elekes Andor, CC BY 4.0, source
- Ceylon cinnamon: NickCT, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Annatto: Porto Neto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Poppy seed: Odedr, Public domain, source
- Dried lime: Theinfo, CC BY 3.0, source
- Zhug: DonIncognito, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mastic: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Malagueta pepper: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil, CC BY 2.0, source
- Indian prickly ash: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bush tomato: Mark Marathon, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Shishito pepper: Sotaque, CC0, source
- Dalle Khursani: Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Yaji: Salma kyari, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Yongfeng chili sauce: Elena0100, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gingermint: SEWilco, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pineapple sage: Eric Hunt, CC BY 2.5, source
- Benzoin resin: Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Curry paste: Ryan Snyder, CC BY 2.0, source
- Lunumiris: Yasith Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chammanthi podi: Ranjithsiji, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kair: T. R. Shankar Raman, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- East Indian arrowroot: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Temulawak: Ariyanto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Wild turmeric: goldentakin, CC BY 2.0, source
- Indonesian bay leaf: W.A. Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Karashi: yoppy, CC BY 2.0, source
- Khao khua: Isan1985, CC0, source
- Kroeung: Goomba King ( en:User:Trilinguist ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Yuzu koshō: njt, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chinese prickly-ash: Dysmorodrepanis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kewra: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Hilbeh: شرعب السلام, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Pilpelchuma: מאור עטיה, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Nutmeg: Herusutimbul, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cardamom: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source