The distinction between cassava flour and tapioca starch is confusing for many people. A look around the Internet will show you several websites making the incorrect claim that they are the same product. While they both come from the same plant and have many properties in common, they are different products with different applications. If you […]

The coriander comes from the plant that most Americans know as cilantro. British people call the same plant coriander. Both the seed and the plant have the same name. An article about dried vs fresh coriander for an entirely British audience would be about dried vs. fresh cilantro. But what about the seeds? Most cooks […]

When it comes to American spice blends, it is difficult to find any that have become more ingrained in the nation’s food culture than Old Bay seasoning and Creole seasoning. Despite being from very different parts of the US, these blends have a lot in common. The question that many cooks might have is how […]

Sow thistle and dandelion are close enough relatives that they are often mistaken for each other. The fact that they look alike and have some nutritional properties in common may lead you to believe that the two herbs are interchangeable. They can be used in some of the same applications, but not always. If you […]

Catmint and catnip both belong to the Lamiaceae family and have quite a few things in common as evidenced by the cat prefix that they share. The two names are also commonly confused as many people believe that they refer to a single herb. That said, catmint and catnip are two quite different herbs that […]

Italian parsley and curly parsley have been the quintessential garnishing herbs in Western cuisine. There was a time not too long ago when a chopped parsley garnish seemed essential for fine dining dishes. These days, most cooks agree that garnishes should do more than make your dish pretty. When it comes to the two parsleys, […]

Arugula and spinach are two healthy and versatile greens that you can use raw or cooked. While they have similarities, it is best not to swap them out in a recipe without learning more about their characteristics. Learn more about how arugula compares to spinach in the SPICEography Showdown below.

Milk thistle and dandelion root both have a long history of being used as medicine and for food. Although they both have strong reputations for improving the health of the liver, they are very different herbs. If you are facing a choice between one or the other, read the following milk thistle vs. dandelion root […]