Masala is the word for spice mix in Hindi. Both chaat masala and garam masala are mixtures of spices. Both can be used as general-purpose spice blends despite the fact that there are some crucial differences between them. In this SPICEography Showdown, we’ll look at what those differences are and the best ways to use […]

Fennel seeds and cumin are two highly flavored spices with enough applications that every cook should make an effort to keep them on hand. While they do have a few things in common, it is important to recognize their differences if you are thinking about using one of them or about using one as an […]

Salt is the most important seasoning and has been used all over the world, throughout human history. Every culture uses salt since it is an essential nutrient along with being the most important flavor enhancer in existence. Sea salt is one of the many varieties of salt used in cooking and is typically collected from […]

Fennel seeds and anise seeds are two very similar spices that many cooks use interchangeably, especially in Italian and Indian cooking. They are similar enough to be confused with each other—some cooks refer to fennel seeds as anise and vice versa. If you are going to make certain classic European dishes (especially Italian dishes), you […]

Carob is considered by many to be the best option for a chocolate-like flavor and consistency without actually using cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is the main flavoring ingredient in most chocolate food items. It is versatile enough that it can be adapted to work in multiple forms such as chocolate cakes, ganaches and ice creams. […]

Star anise and anise seed are two spices that not only sound similar, they have similar flavors. Their flavors are enough alike that some cooks consider interchangeable. Both spices are versatile enough to stay in the background as they do in some spice blends and savory dishes or to play the starring role as they […]

In some contexts, the term powdered sugar is used to indicate all forms of refined sugar that have been ground or powdered. In other words, it encompasses any sugar with a fine grain including confectioners’ sugar. Confectioners’ sugar is a powdered sugar though not all powdered sugar is confectioners’ sugar. In other cases, confectioners’ sugar […]

Lemon peel and lemon zest are both great ways to add the flavor of lemon to a dish. The lemon flavor and fragrance come from the oils in the skin, which include the compound limonene that is responsible for much of the smell and taste. What is the difference in flavor between lemon peel and […]