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EveryMasala

Sharp and pungent

Mustard, horseradish, wasabi and black pepper: the bite that reaches the nose.

Pungent spices have a sharp, penetrating bite that reaches the nose and sinuses. Mustard, horseradish, wasabi, black pepper, ginger and garlic belong here.

What makes them pungent

Mustard, horseradish and wasabi make isothiocyanates when the plant is crushed, which creates a quick nose-clearing sting. Black pepper's piperine gives a more lasting bite. Ginger's gingerols and garlic's allicin give their own sharp edge.

How cooks use them

Mustard is used in Indian, German, French and English food, wasabi with Japanese raw fish, horseradish with roast beef, and pepper nearly everywhere. Pungency fades with heat or time, so many are added at the end.

Sensation

Pungent bite is different from chilli burn. It comes quickly, then fades, and does not linger on the tongue.

Sharp and pungent on EveryMasala

The spices written up so far, best known first.

PartSeedBarkRootFlowerFruitChilliLeafResinBulbStigmaBlendPasteSeasoning
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperSnacks and tea timeDrinksDesserts and sweetsStreet foodPickles and preservesFeasts and banquets
馃嚤馃嚢 Sri Lanka and 5 moreCinnamon The dried inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, prized for its sweet warmth and essential oil.Bark 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 路 Sweet and mellow 馃嚘馃嚬 Austria and 5 moreCaraway The crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family herb, used to flavour breads and spirits.Seed 路 Anise and liquorice 路 Sharp and pungent 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 2 moreCardamom Aromatic seeds from spindle-shaped pods used in sweet and savory dishes across Asia and the Middle East.Seed 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 馃嚲馃嚜 Yemen and 1 moreHawaij丨賵丕賷噩 A ground Yemeni spice blend used for soups, coffee, and everyday cooking.Warm and sweet-spiced 路 Earthy and deep 馃嚞馃嚙 United Kingdom and 2 moreMixed spice A British blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice for sweet bakingBlend 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 路 Sweet and mellow 馃嚚馃嚦 China and 1 moreGarlic powder A dry, savory spice made from dehydrated and ground garlic cloves.Seed 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Earthy and deep 馃嚞馃嚟 GhanaShitoshitor din A dark, spicy sauce made from fried fish and peppers, central to Ghanaian cooking.Hot and fiery 路 Sharp and pungent 馃嚬馃嚪 Turkey and 5 moreBlack cumin The tiny black seed of a wild annual flower, used across the Middle East and South Asia.Seed 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Herbal and green 馃嚝馃嚪 FranceSel gris A coarse, moist sea salt harvested from the bottom of French salt pans.Sharp and pungent 路 Earthy and deep 馃嚠馃嚛 Indonesia and 5 moreGinger The pungent rhizome of a flowering perennial, one of the world's most traded spices.Root 路 Hot and fiery 路 Sharp and pungent 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreBlack pepper The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Hot and fiery 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreBlack pepper The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Sharp and pungent 路 Hot and fiery 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreGinger The pungent rhizome of a flowering plant, widely used as a spice and folk medicine.Root 路 Hot and fiery 路 Sharp and pungent 馃嚘馃嚬 Austria and 5 moreCaraway The crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family plant, used to flavour rye bread and spirits.Seed 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Anise and liquorice

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly digest

Every Monday: seven spices you may not know, what is cooking this week, and one blend explained step by step.