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.
🇹🇷 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
🇨🇲 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
🇲🇽 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
🇲🇽 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
🇰🇭 CambodiaKampot pepperម្រេចកំពត
A Cambodian cultivar of black pepper with a protected geographical indication status.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇨🇳 China and 1 moreGarlic powder
A dry, savory spice made from dehydrated and ground garlic cloves.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreCumin
The dried seed of a small parsley-family herb, used whole or ground in many world cuisines.Seed · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇪🇸 SpainPaprika Tap de CortíPimentón de Mallorca
A sweet, sun-dried ground pepper from the Balearic Islands, prized for its deep red colour and antioxidant properties.Seed · Sweet and mellow · Earthy and deep
🇬🇪 Georgia and 1 moreBlue fenugreekუცხო სუნელი
The blue-flowered annual herb that seasons Georgian stews and Swiss cheeseSeed · Earthy and deep · Bitter
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Garlic powder: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cumin: Sanjay Acharya, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Annatto: Porto Neto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Poppy seed: Odedr, Public domain, source
- Penja white pepper: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Paprika Tap de Cortí: Berin, CC BY 3.0, source
- Kampot pepper: PsamatheM, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Blue fenugreek: Flyout, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Paprika: Takkk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source