Both cilantro and parsley are members of the same family, which is the same one to which carrots belong. You will usually be able to find them next to each other in the produce section of grocery stores and often used in similar ways. It is easy to believe that these two herbs are interchangeable, […]

Cumin is an essential ingredient that many may recognize from its use in both Indian and Mexican cuisines. The spice’s flavors are pungent and are among the most distinctive elements in both curries and burritos. Cumin seeds come from a plant in the parsley family and you can use them whole or ground. In each […]

Basil and oregano are both popular spices and are essential for Mediterranean dishes. Both are key ingredients for flavoring spaghetti sauces, stews and a range of tomato- and cheese-based dishes. When faced with these popular herbs, you may have questions like do they have similar flavors? Are they different in terms of nutrition? Are they […]

Parsley is best known as a garnish that can make even the simplest dishes look attractive and fancy. Perhaps less known is the fact that it is actually a versatile herb with a distinctive flavor and a range of uses. Like most herbs, parsley is available in both dried and fresh forms and there are […]

There is a widespread notion that fresh herbs are superior to dried herbs, but that is not always true. Dried herbs often perform just as well as fresh and have the benefit of lasting for longer. The fact is that both forms have their benefits and drawbacks. In order to determine how dried and fresh […]

Curry leaves and bay leaves are both staples of Indian and Sri Lankan cooking. Bay leaves come from the bay laurel tree while curry leaves come from the sweet neem or Neeme tree, which is a relative of the cinnamon tree. It is possible to confuse the two since curry leaves do look a lot […]

Two of the most popular herbs in the spice rack, thyme and oregano are both staple herbs in Mediterranean cooking. They both originated in that part of the world and feature heavily in the local cuisines. Another similarity between the two herbs is that they are both members of the mint family, which means that […]

Saffron is easily the world’s most expensive spice. In fact, throughout history unscrupulous merchants have falsified it. In the Middle Ages, the problem of saffron adulteration was serious enough that those found guilty of committing it were executed. It is expensive because it consists of crocus stamens that must be extracted by hand. It can […]