Earthy and deep
Cumin, turmeric and fenugreek: the low, savoury base of a curry.
Earthy spices have a deep, savoury, slightly dusty flavour. Cumin, turmeric, coriander seed, fenugreek and black cardamom give food a rounded, grounded base.
What makes them earthy
Cumin contains cuminaldehyde, a warm, musky compound. Turmeric tastes of soil, ginger and a little bitterness. Black cardamom adds smoke and camphor. They hold the flavour together under brighter spices.
How cooks use them
They form the base of curry powders, chilli, tagines, falafel and many bean dishes. They are usually cooked in oil early, to remove rawness, and are often combined with sweeter or more sour notes.
Cautions
Overuse can make food taste muddy. A small pinch of a brighter spice, such as coriander or lemon, restores balance.
Earthy and deep on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
🇵🇪 Peru and 5 moreChili pepperchīlli
The pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇷 Iran and 4 moreSaffronزعفران
The dried crimson stigmas of the autumn-blooming saffron crocus.Stigma · Sharp and pungent · Bitter
🇱🇾 Libya and 1 morePilpelchumaפלפלצ'ומה
A steamed chili and garlic paste from Libyan Jewish cuisine, now common in Israel.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry paste
A blended mixture of spices and aromatics used as the base for curries in Asia.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇳🇬 NigeriaYaji
A spicy rub from Nigeria made with chili, ginger, and ground peanuts.Blend · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreZhugسحوق
A Yemeni hot sauce of crushed chilies, garlic, and corianderHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 morePoppy seed
The tiny kidney-shaped oilseed of the opium poppy, used in baking and cooking across Europe and South Asia.Seed · Earthy and deep
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreAnnatto
The orange-red pigment from achiote seeds used as a natural food coloring and mild spice.Seed · Earthy and deep · Sweet and mellow
🇦🇺 AustraliaWattleseed
The edible seed of Australian Acacia trees, traditionally ground into flour by Aboriginal Australians.Seed · Sweet and mellow · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaLakadong turmericShynrai Lakadong (Khasi), Chyrmit Lakadong (Pnar)
A high-curcumin turmeric variety grown organically in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, India.Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇴🇲 Oman and 3 moreDried lime
Sun-dried limes from the Persian Gulf, used whole or ground to add sour depth to Middle Eastern dishes.Fruit · Sour and tart · Earthy and deep
🇦🇺 AustraliaBush tomatokutjera
The dried fruit of a native Australian nightshade shrub, traditionally eaten by Aboriginal peoples.Fruit · Sweet and mellow · Earthy and deep
🇨🇲 Cameroon and 1 morePenja white pepper
A Cameroonian black pepper variety grown in the volcanic Penja Valley, protected by geographical indication.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaErode TurmericErodu Manjal
A Geographical Indication turmeric from Tamil Nadu with high curcumin content.Root · Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreChipotle
Smoke-dried ripe jalapeño peppers used in Mexican and Tex-Mex cookingChilli · Hot and fiery · Smoky
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreHilbehحلبة
A frothy Yemeni condiment made from ground fenugreek seeds and waterPaste · Bitter · Earthy and deep
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreTemulawak
The rhizome of a Javanese ginger relative, used for its earthy flavour and traditional wellness drinks.Root · Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreEast Indian arrowrootകൂവ
A wild South Asian ginger valued for its turmeric-scented foliage and starchy rhizome.Root · Earthy and deep · Herbal and green
🇮🇳 IndiaChammanthi podi
A dry coconut and spice condiment from Kerala that preserves fresh chutney for months.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 morePaprika
A red powder made from dried Capsicum annuum peppers, used to colour and flavour dishes across Europe and the Middle EasSeed · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreGaram masalaगरम मसाला
A ground blend of warm spices from the Indian subcontinent used to finish curries and stews.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreJalapeño
A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar from Mexico known for its green pods and moderate heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry powder
A Western adaptation of Indian spice blends for cooking sauces and stews.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇱🇧 Lebanon and 5 moreZa'atarزَعْتَر
A Levantine blend of dried herbs, sumac, sesame seeds, and salt used in breads and dips.Blend · Earthy and deep · Citrus and bright
🇲🇦 Morocco and 2 moreRas el hanoutرأس الحانوت
A complex Maghrebi spice blend meaning 'head of the shop', used in savory dishes across North Africa.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇮🇷 Iran and 2 moreAsafoetida
A pungent gum-resin from the Ferula plant, used as a garlic and onion substitute in South Asian cooking.Resin · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇪🇹 Ethiopia and 1 moreBerbereበርበሬ (bärbäre)
A complex Ethiopian spice blend built on chili peppers, coriander, and ginger.Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇳🇱 Netherlands and 5 moreJuniper berry
The fleshy seed cone of the juniper tree, a piney spice for game and gin.Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright
🇨🇳 China and 4 moreFingerrootกระชาย
The finger-shaped rhizome of a tropical ginger relative, used fresh or pickled in Southeast Asian cooking.Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright
🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreThyme
The dried leaves of a Mediterranean mint-family herb, used to perfume stews and baths alike.Leaf · Earthy and deep · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇯🇵 JapanShichimi七味唐辛子
A Japanese seven-ingredient spice blend for finishing soups and noodlesBlend · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright
🇯🇴 Jordan and 5 moreBaharatبهارات
A versatile Middle Eastern spice blend used to season meats and soups.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇬🇪 GeorgiaKhmeli suneliხმელი სუნელი
A flexible Georgian blend of dried herbs and seeds for stews and meats.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChili oil辣椒油
A red condiment of infused vegetable oil and hot peppers used across Asia and Europe.Hot and fiery · Smoky
🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 2 morePanch phoronপাঁচ ফোড়ন
A Bengali blend of five whole seeds used to temper dishesBlend · Bitter · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇪🇹 EthiopiaMitmitaሚጥሚጣ
A fiery Ethiopian spice blend of bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and cloves.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇸🇾 Syria and 1 moreAleppo pepperفلفل حلبي
A moderately spicy, fruity flake from Syria and Turkey, named for the city of Aleppo.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreHawaijحوايج
A ground Yemeni spice blend used for soups, coffee, and everyday cooking.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇮🇷 IranAdviehادویه
A fragrant blend of spices used to season rice and stews in Iranian cooking.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreFleur de sel
A hand-raked crust of sea salt crystals gathered from evaporation pans.Earthy and deep
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreRecado rojo
A red-orange paste of annatto and spices used to marinate meats in Yucatán cuisine.Earthy and deep · Sharp and pungent
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreMixed spice
A British blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice for sweet bakingBlend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇰🇭 CambodiaKampot pepperម្រេចកំពត
A Cambodian cultivar of black pepper with a protected geographical indication status.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇨🇳 China and 2 moreCrushed red pepper
Dried and crushed chilli peppers, often with seeds, used as a spicy condiment.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇬🇭 GhanaShitoshitor din
A dark, spicy sauce made from fried fish and peppers, central to Ghanaian cooking.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇺🇸 United StatesPumpkin pie spice
A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves used in American autumn baking.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇨🇳 China and 1 moreGarlic powder
A dry, savory spice made from dehydrated and ground garlic cloves.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreNew Mexico chilechile de Nuevo México
A cultivar group of Capsicum annuum from New Mexico, valued for its smoky flavor and range of heat levels.Sharp and pungent · Sweet and mellow
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Panch phoron: Wiki-uk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Curry powder: Slick, CC0, source
- Paprika: Takkk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Juniper berry: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 1.0, source
- Fleur de sel: Fleur de Sel sea salt. Ile de Re 2005, personal photograph., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Garlic powder: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chili pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Recado rojo: Paul Goyette, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ras el hanout: Sarefo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Jalapeño: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Berbere: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Khmeli suneli: А. Кабанов, CC0, source
- Mixed spice: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fingerroot: Ariearsad, CC BY 4.0, source
- Pumpkin pie spice: Stephen Witherden, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mitmita: Caffe Vita, CC BY 2.0, source
- Pilpelchuma: מאור עטיה, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lakadong turmeric: Trinity Saioo, CC0, source
- Hawaij: Mx. Granger, CC0, source
- Asafoetida: Toyah, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wattleseed: division, CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, source
- Kampot pepper: PsamatheM, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Annatto: Porto Neto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Poppy seed: Odedr, Public domain, source
- Zhug: DonIncognito, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Yaji: Salma kyari, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Curry paste: Ryan Snyder, CC BY 2.0, source
- Chammanthi podi: Ranjithsiji, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- East Indian arrowroot: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Temulawak: Ariyanto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hilbeh: شرعب السلام, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chipotle: User:Carstor, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Erode Turmeric: Sivaranjani, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Penja white pepper: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chili oil: Alpha, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Aleppo pepper: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Garam masala: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Za'atar: Sjschen, CC BY 3.0, source
- New Mexico chile: vxla, CC BY 2.0, source
- Thyme: Evan-Amos, CC0, source
- Shito: Flixtey, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bush tomato: Mark Marathon, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dried lime: Theinfo, CC BY 3.0, source
- Shichimi: http://www.recipelab.jp/sozai/detail/1779/, CC0, source
- Crushed red pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Saffron: Hubertl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source