Chives are a narrow-leaved member of the onion family. They are versatile and have a milder flavor than other types of onion. They are popular for garnishing dishes, as their flavor does not hold up well to cooking. Having chives around is a good idea if you like to cook French dishes or simply need […]
Curry Leaves: A Truly Indian Spice
Curry leaves are from the subtropical sweet neem (Murraya koenigii) tree. The sweet neem tree is native to the foothills of the Himalayas. The Tamil name for curry leaves literally translates to “leaf used to make curry.” The usage of curry leaves in Indian and Sri Lankan cooking stretches all the way back into the […]
What’s A Good Mint Substitute?
Mint is a useful herb to keep on hand. It is excellent for flavoring smoothies and other drinks; you can use it to complement savory flavors in a variety of dishes as well. You can add mint leaves to your spaghetti sauce, use it to make a pesto for chicken or even add it to […]
What’s A Good Ginger Substitute?
Ginger is a popular spice with both sweet and savory applications. It is sold in various forms, with the most common being dried and ground ginger. You can also find ginger in many grocery stores in fresh and crystallized forms. There are many dishes that use each form of ginger. Whether you are a baker […]
Celery Seeds: A Surprisingly Potent Spice
Celery seed does not come from celery. It comes from a wild ancestor of the celery plant sometimes called smallage, lovage or Chinese celery. Celery along with its ancestor plant is in the same family as parsley and the carrot. These plants originated in the Mediterranean region. Both the leaves and seeds of the celery […]
What’s A Good Fenugreek Substitute?
Fenugreek is used in many curry powder blends, as well as in other Indian dishes like chutneys. It is also used in dry rubs for meat as well as in certain tea blends. If you like cook Indian dishes, this is an indispensable spice and you should definitely keep it on hand. Fenugreek is not […]
Chicory: From Salads To Coffee
The chicory herb is yet another plant that has been in use since ancient times. It was used in ancient Egypt and has been mentioned in texts dating back to 4,000 BC. In that era, this relative of the endive was grown for its seeds. The ancient Egyptians used the seeds as a digestive aid. […]
Chives Vs. Green Onions: SPICEography Showdown
Green onions and chives are both members of the large and diverse onion family. This family has other members like leeks, shallots and scallions; all these are alliums. Green onions are Allium fistulosum, chives are Allium schoenoprasum while leeks are Allium porrum and shallots are Allium stipitatum. Each of these herbs brings something different to […]
What’s A Good Dill Substitute?
The use of dill dates all the way back to biblical times and there are recipes that use it alongside cucumber that date back to the mid 17th century. This herb’s flavor is reminiscent of caraway or anise and it has a frilly look that makes it great for use as a garnish. It is […]
Annatto Seeds: The Colorful Spice
Origin of annatto seeds The name used for annatto in Latin America is achiote; its seeds have been widely used throughout Central and Latin America since the time of the Aztecs and Mayans. It gets its Latin name (bixa orellana) from Francisco de Orellano, the 16th-century discoverer of the Amazon. Both the Aztecs and Mayans […]