SPICEography Showdown Archives

Dried Herbs Vs. Fresh: SPICEography Showdown

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 …

Curry Leaves Vs. Bay Leaves: SPICEography Showdown

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 like bay leaves. The resemblance may cause some cooks to believe that they are related; they are not. How do these two herbs compare to each other? Do they have a similar flavor? Read on for answers to these and other questions.

Oregano Vs. Thyme: SPICEography Showdown

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 …

Safflower Vs. Saffron: SPICEography Showdown

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 …

Bay Leaves Vs. Basil: SPICEography Showdown

Bay leaves and basil are widely used herbs in Mediterranean cuisine. The two are often used together to flavor hearty Italian dishes but both are present in Asian food as well. Are there any other similarities? Do these herbs taste …

Chia Seeds Vs. Flax Seeds: SPICEography Showdown

Both flax seeds and chia seeds are nutrient-dense oilseeds. Both have become popular in recent years with flax seeds being the more widely known of the two. Both are excellent additions to your diet. Each of them can provide you …

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 …

Black Cardamom Vs. Green: SPICEography Showdown

Cardamom comes in three colors, with each color having its own unique characteristics. The two most common colors are the black and green varieties with the green being the one that most of us know from the spice aisle in …