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.
🇦🇺 AustraliaWattleseed
The edible seed of Australian Acacia trees, traditionally ground into flour by Aboriginal Australians.Seed · Sweet and mellow · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaChammanthi podi
A dry coconut and spice condiment from Kerala that preserves fresh chutney for months.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 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
🇹🇷 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
🇱🇧 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
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreHawaijحوايج
A ground Yemeni spice blend used for soups, coffee, and everyday cooking.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreMixed spice
A British blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice for sweet bakingBlend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇬🇭 GhanaShitoshitor din
A dark, spicy sauce made from fried fish and peppers, central to Ghanaian cooking.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇨🇳 China and 1 moreGarlic powder
A dry, savory spice made from dehydrated and ground garlic cloves.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaIdli podiஇட்லிப் பொடி
A coarse South Indian spice mix of roasted lentils and chillies, served with oil or ghee.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇫🇷 FranceSel gris
A coarse, moist sea salt harvested from the bottom of French salt pans.Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreChar magazचार मगज
A blend of four melon seeds used to thicken and enrich dishes in South AsiaSweet and mellow · Earthy and deep
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Idli podi: Booradleyp1, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Garlic powder: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mixed spice: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Char magaz: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Wattleseed: division, CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, source
- Poppy seed: Odedr, Public domain, source
- East Indian arrowroot: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sel gris: Stéphane Gourichon, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Shito: Flixtey, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hawaij: Mx. Granger, CC0, source
- Chammanthi podi: Ranjithsiji, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Za'atar: Sjschen, CC BY 3.0, source