Warm and sweet-spiced
Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and allspice: the warmth of baking and mulled drinks.
Warm spices, such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice and ginger, give a sweet, deep, comforting aroma that is more about scent than heat.
What makes them warm
The flavour comes from compounds such as cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon, eugenol in clove and allspice, and myristicin in nutmeg. They are not hot like chilli, but they give a feeling of warmth to the nose and mouth.
How cooks use them
They go into baked goods, mulled wine and cider, chai, garam masala, Moroccan tagines and Middle Eastern rice dishes. Sweet and savoury cooking both use them, often together with a little salt.
Seasons and customs
Many cultures link warm spices with winter and festivals, from Christmas gingerbread and mince pies to Indian chai and Persian winter stews. They are used in small amounts, as nutmeg and clove can overpower.
Warm and sweet-spiced on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreFennel
The anise-scented seeds and crisp bulb of a Mediterranean perennial herbSeed · Anise and liquorice · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreBasil
A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 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
🇮🇳 IndiaKala masala
A dark roasted spice blend from Maharashtra used for everyday home cooking.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 IndiaErode TurmericErodu Manjal
A Geographical Indication turmeric from Tamil Nadu with high curcumin content.Root · Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇦🇫 Afghanistan and 5 moreLovageлюбисток
A tall European herb with celery-like leaves and spicy seeds used in soups and broths.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Herbal and green
🇮🇳 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
🇪🇹 Ethiopia and 1 moreBerbereበርበሬ (bärbäre)
A complex Ethiopian spice blend built on chili peppers, coriander, and ginger.Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇫🇷 France and 3 moreHerbes de Provenceèrbas de Provença
A dried herb blend from southwestern France, now a global kitchen staple.Warm and sweet-spiced · Herbal and green
🇯🇴 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
🇧🇩 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
🇾🇪 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
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau and 5 moreCalabash nutmeg
The dried seed of a West African tree, used as a local substitute for nutmeg.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 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
🇨🇳 China and 4 moreLesser galangal高良薑
An aromatic Asian rhizome with orange flesh and a sweet, gentle spiceRoot · Sweet and mellow · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇻🇳 Vietnam and 1 moreSaigon cinnamonquế Trà My, quế Thanh, quế Quỳ, quế Trà Bồng
A potent bark from central Vietnam with a complex aroma and high coumarin content.Bark · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGinger
The pungent rhizome of a flowering perennial, one of the world's most traded spices.Root · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreFenugreekحلبة (hilba)
The cuboid seed of an annual legume, prized for its bitter warmth and maple aroma.Seed · Bitter · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇬🇪 GeorgiaSvan saltსვანური მარილი
A moist, aromatic spice blend from the Georgian mountains, combining herbs with salt.Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇻🇳 Vietnam and 1 moreRice paddy herbngò ôm
A tropical aquatic herb with lemon-cumin notes, native to Southeast Asian rice fields.Leaf · Citrus and bright · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreSesame
The drought-hardy seed of a flowering plant, prized for its oil and nutty taste.Seed · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreGalangal
The pungent rhizome of the ginger family, essential to Southeast Asian soups and pastes.Root · Sharp and pungent · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreTurmericहल्दी
The dried rhizome of a tropical ginger relative, prized for its golden color and earthy bite.Root · Warm and sweet-spiced · Bitter
🇺🇸 United StatesMrs. Burns' Lemon Basil
An heirloom sweet basil cultivar from New Mexico with intense lemon flavor and large leaves.Leaf · Citrus and bright · Floral and perfumed
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreGinger
The pungent rhizome of a flowering plant, widely used as a spice and folk medicine.Root · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
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
- Berbere: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Khmeli suneli: А. Кабанов, CC0, source
- Turmeric: J.M.Garg, CC BY 3.0, source
- Saigon cinnamon: Sykes, Bill, CC BY 4.0, source
- Cumin: Sanjay Acharya, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mitmita: Caffe Vita, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ginger: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, source
- Hawaij: Mx. Granger, CC0, source
- Calabash nutmeg: Samuel Curtis and William Jackson Hooker, Public domain, source
- Curry paste: Ryan Snyder, CC BY 2.0, source
- Erode Turmeric: Sivaranjani, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Herbes de Provence: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ginger: Venkatx5, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fenugreek: Yak, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Svan salt: Jelger Groeneveld, CC BY 2.0, source
- Rice paddy herb: Emilia Murray, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Sesame: Anna Frodesiak, CC0, source
- Basil: Castielli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lovage: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fennel: Elekes Andor, CC BY 4.0, source