The fennel seed is the fruit of the fennel plant, which belongs to the parsley family. Its taste is similar to that of aniseed and the two are often confused with each other as a result. Fennel seeds are oval-shaped and have grooves. They are yellowish-brown or yellowish-green in color …
It should be noted that all salts can technically be considered sea salts since they all came from a sea at some point. However, the term “sea salt” is generally used for salt that is produced by evaporating water from a living ocean. This method of producing salt dates back …
Kosher salt is obtained by the same means used to get regular table salt. In other words, it may be harvested from the sea or it may be mined. The difference lies in processing as kosher salt is processed in such a way that the crystals are large and irregular. …
Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years. As far back as 2000 BC, this spice was a valuable commodity in the Middle East. One of its many uses in the ancient world was as a perfume for embalming purposes. It was brought to Europe by Arab traders where it …
The history of curry powder The word curry is thought to originate from kari, the Tamil word for a thin sauce containing spices served in southern India. It was one of that region’s many gravy-like accompaniments for meat and vegetables. The Portuguese are credited with bringing the term back to …
Almost anyone who has made a basic soup or stew has used bay leaves to flavor the dish. Bay leaves have been such a staple ingredient in soups and stews that most of us use them as we always have without giving them a second thought. With a multitude of …
It’s a common misconception that allspice is a spice blend consisting of many spices. In reality, allspice is a single spice made from the unripe berries of evergreen trees indigenous to the lush rainforests of Central and South America. This spice derived its name from the English in the 1600s, …
Like cinnamon and allspice, nutmeg is an intense, aromatic spice that most of us associate with the holiday season. With just one hint of nutmeg’s distinct scent can send us reeling with memories of some of our favorite times. Of course, nutmeg works well in more than just eggnog and …