Coriander

Scientific name: Coriandrum sativum

 

Coriander image

 

About this spice

Coriander is made from the seeds of the dried fruit of the coriander plant. The leaves are used to make another spice, cilantro. The seeds have a strong, sweet aroma and a slightly bitter citrus flavor. The plant grows wild in southeast Europe and also is found in India, China, Egypt, and Morocco.

 

How to use this spice

Cilantro seeds are easy to crush, so they are best bought whole. Use coriander to flavor liqueurs, stews, pickles, marinades, beans, chili, and pastries.

 

Spice trivia

Coriander also is known as “dizzycorn” because it can have a narcotic effect when eaten in very large quantities. Long used by monks as a medicine to treat maladies, it is still used today in some medicines to hide the unpleasant medicine taste.

 

Cumin

Scientific name: Cuminum cyminum

 

 

About this spice

A member of the same family (Umbelliferae) as coriander, the cumin plant has the same slender stems and segmented, threadlike leaves. The seeds are used to make the spice cumin, which has a powerful, warming aroma and a sharp and slightly bitter flavor.

 

How to use this spice

Lightly roasting cumin before use will bring out the aroma. If ground, it must be kept in an airtight container, so that it won’t lose its pungency. Used in excess, it can overwhelm the other spices in a dish. Commonly found in spicy dishes, you can use cumin to flavor the following:

 

ü curry powder

ü chili powder

ü stews

ü rice

 

Spice trivia

Cumin traditionally has been thought of as a panacea, able to cure whatever ails you. Specifically, it was thought that cumin could cure digestive conditions, and it also has been used to reduce nausea in pregnancy.

 

Nutmeg

Scientific name: Myristica fragrans

 

 

About this spice

The nutmeg tree is an evergreen that grows to a height of almost 30 feet. Inside the large, yellow fruit is the heavy seed used to make the spice nutmeg. The bright red membrane surrounding the seed is called aril or mace, which is used separately to make another spice.

 

How to use this spice

You should buy nutmeg whole, since they lose their strength quickly once cut. When you need some for a recipe, use a cheese grater or a special nutmeg grater. Commonly used in sweet and savory dishes, you can use nutmeg to flavor the following:

 

ü cakes

ü sweet cream

ü milk puddings

ü soufflés

ü apple pie

ü stewed potatoes

ü eggnog

 

Spice trivia

Nutmeg traditionally has been used as an aid to digestion. Taken in very large doses, it is a dangerous narcotic; in small doses, however, it is a mild sedative. Even if you use a large dose of nutmeg in your dishes, you need not be concerned about its negative effects.

 

Pepper

Scientific name: Piper nigrum

 

 

About this spice

In the wild, the pepper vine climbs about 20 feet up jungle trees; .on a plantation, though, it’s typically about half that height. Black pepper is made from the berries that grow on the vine. They are harvested while still unripe and then dried until they are shriveled and black. White pepper, on the other hand, is made from the ripe berries. Pepper has a hot, pungent aroma and flavor.

 

How to use this spice

Buy whole peppercorns to ensure that the flavor doesn’t deteriorate, and grind them with a pepper mill prior to use. Pepper is ubiquitous as a spice; grind some fresh pepper over almost any dish to add flavor. In addition, add whole peppercorns to marinades, stock, and stews for extra flavor.

 

Spice trivia

More than any other spice, pepper historically has driven the spice trade. In fact, when Columbus landed in America looking for pepper (among other spices), he brought back the hot chilies used by the native peoples and claimed they were “pepper.” To this day, they’re known as “chili peppers.” (In fact, the pepper vine isn’t native to the Americas; however, Brazil today is one of the world’s largest pepper producers.) At times throughout history, pepper has even been used as a form of money. Part of its value lies in the fact that whole peppercorns can last many years without losing their flavor and aroma. In addition to its historical value, pepper also has been used as a stimulant and an aid to digestion.

 

Star anise

Scientific name: Illicium verum

 

 

About this spice

Native to China and Vietnam, star anise is the star-shaped fruit of the star anise tree, a small evergreen. Each point of the star contains a seed. Just before they are ripe, the stars are harvested and dried. Star anise has a strong aroma and a bitter flavor.

 

How to use this spice

Some recipes call for whole stars to be added, while others call variously for segments, points, or sections of the star. The stars also may be ground. However it is used, though, star anise is a powerful spice. In particular, use it to flavor the following dishes:

 

ü meat and poultry

ü Chinese stocks and soups

ü fruit compotes

ü jams

 

Spice trivia

Recently, star anise has made the headlines as an ingredient of the drug FluRid, which is used to reduce the severity of “Bird Flu.” So don’t be surprised if there’s a shortage of the spice, as large quantities will be needed to manufacture the drug. The process of extracting the necessary shikimic acid from star anise takes a year.

 

Turmeric

Scientific name: Curcuma domestica

 

 

About this spice

The turmeric root is similar to the knobby ginger root. Its flavor resembles that of a cross between ginger and pepper. Turmeric roots are harvested, boiled, peeled, dried, and then powdered to produce the spice. It has a pungent aroma and a mild, warming flavor.

 

How to use this spice

In addition to its uses for flavoring food, turmeric is used to color foods such as mustard, relish, butter, and cheese. While it retains its color for a long time, it does lose its flavor over time; so buy it in small quantities. It always is used in its ground form and can add flavor to a number of Eastern and Middle Eastern dishes.

 

Spice trivia

Turmeric has been used for many years to color food. In fact, Marco Polo noted its use in his account of his travels to China.