Leaves and herbs
Curry leaf, bay, basil, oregano, kaffir lime and fenugreek: aromatic leaves, fresh and dried.
Leaf spices and aromatic herbs include bay, curry leaf, kaffir lime leaf, pandan, mint, oregano and thyme. They are used fresh or dried for scent more than for heat.
What they are
Leaf spices come from woody shrubs and herbs. Bay laurel, curry leaf and kaffir lime leaf are tough leaves that give flavour and are usually not eaten. Others, such as mint and oregano, are tender and are eaten whole. Many grow in warm climates and are used fresh in the places where they grow.
How they are used
Curry leaves are fried in oil at the start of a South Indian dish, bay is simmered in stews, and kaffir lime leaves go into Thai curries and soups. Dried oregano and thyme are rubbed into meat and sauces, and mint tea is a drink across North Africa and the Middle East.
Buying and keeping
Fresh leaves keep a few days in the fridge and curry leaves freeze well. Dried leaves should still be green and fragrant. Replace dried herbs after a year.
Leaf on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
馃嚞馃嚙 United Kingdom and 4 moreRock samphire
A coastal succulent with peppery leaves and carrot-scented roots, used fresh or pickled.Leaf 路 Hot and fiery 路 Sharp and pungent
馃嚨馃嚫 Palestine and 4 moreGreek sage
A hairy Mediterranean shrub with pink flowers and edible fruit galls.Leaf 路 Herbal and green 路 Sweet and mellow
馃嚬馃嚟 Thailand and 3 moreThai basil喙傕斧喔｀赴喔炧覆
A Southeast Asian herb with purple stems and anise notes, used in curries and soups.Leaf 路 Anise and liquorice 路 Hot and fiery
馃嚤馃嚘 Laos and 5 moreLemon basil
A hybrid herb with a bright citrus scent, used across Southeast Asia and Africa.Leaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Herbal and green
馃嚮馃嚦 Vietnam and 1 moreRice paddy herbng貌 么m
A tropical aquatic herb with lemon-cumin notes, native to Southeast Asian rice fields.Leaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreLemongrasssereh; tanglad; takhrai; sera
A tropical grass with citrus-scented stalks used in Asian soups and herbal teasLeaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Sweet and mellow
馃嚥馃嚲 Malaysia and 3 moreKesum
An aromatic herb from Southeast Asia, used fresh in salads and soups.Leaf 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Herbal and green
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 2 moreP谩palo
A pungent herb from central Mexico to the Andes, used fresh in salsas and tacos.Leaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Sharp and pungent
馃嚠馃嚤 Israel and 5 moreCoriander
The leaves and dried seeds of an annual Mediterranean herb used in cuisines worldwide.Leaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚡馃嚨 Japan and 1 moreSansho灞辨
The dried berries and young leaves of a spiny Japanese shrub, prized for their numbing citrus heat.Seed 路 Citrus and bright 路 Numbing and tingling
馃嚚馃嚦 China and 5 moreGarlic chives闊彍
A flat-leaved Allium with a garlic scent, used across Asia as a herb and vegetable.Leaf 路 Sweet and mellow
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- P谩palo: Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sansho: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rock samphire: User:Jymm, Public domain, source
- Greek sage: This file is a work by Ester Inbar ( user:ST or he:user:ST ). More of, Attribution, source
- Thai basil: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Garlic chives: Kurt St眉ber [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lemon basil: Kembangraps, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Rice paddy herb: Emilia Murray, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lemongrass: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kesum: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Coriander: Thamizhpparithi Maari, CC BY-SA 3.0, source