Everyday use: spices that mark them

The spices of the working kitchen, reached for every day.

Daily cooking is the main home of spice, with a few trusted spices used every day in every kitchen, such as turmeric, cumin and chilli in India, pepper in Europe, and cinnamon and allspice in the Caribbean.

The everyday spice rack

Most households use between five and fifteen spices regularly. A typical Indian kitchen has a masala dabba, a tin holding mustard seed, cumin, turmeric, coriander, chilli and one or two others. A European kitchen has pepper, paprika, bay, thyme and cinnamon.

How skill is passed on

Families learn the proportions by watching, and the same spices can taste different in each house. Many cooks toast and grind small batches weekly.

Keeping it simple

Few spices are needed to start. Learn a handful well, buy whole where possible, and keep jars fresh.

Everyday use 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

🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreParsley A bright green herb from the celery family, used fresh across Europe and the Middle East.Leaf · Bitter · Herbal and green

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreCardamom Aromatic seeds from spindle-shaped pods used in sweet and savory dishes across Asia and the Middle East.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Warm and sweet-spiced

🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස් A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart

🇧🇷 Brazil and 5 moreMalagueta peppermalagueta A small, fiery chili from Capsicum frutescens used across Portuguese-speaking regions.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇭🇹 HaitiEpis A blended flavor base of peppers, garlic, and herbs essential to Haitian cookingHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇱🇾 Libya and 1 morePilpelchumaפלפלצ'ומה A steamed chili and garlic paste from Libyan Jewish cuisine, now common in Israel.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreCalifornian white sage An aromatic desert shrub whose seeds flavour maize foods and roots make tonic teaSeed · Herbal and green · Sharp and pungent

🇱🇧 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

🇫🇷 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

🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreThyme The dried leaves of a Mediterranean mint-family herb, used to perfume stews and baths alike.Leaf · Earthy and deep · Warm and sweet-spiced

🇮🇳 India and 3 moreBlack saltकाला नमक A kiln-fired rock salt with a sulphurous aroma used in South Asian cooking and Ayurveda.Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreMustard seed Tiny seeds from Brassica plants that become a sharp condiment or cooking oil.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery

🇨🇳 ChinaMala麻辣 A fiery, tongue-numbing Chinese seasoning of Sichuan pepper and chilliesPaste · Hot and fiery · Numbing and tingling

🇺🇸 United StatesKosher salt Coarse edible salt used for dry brining and general cooking, typically free of iodine.Sharp and pungent

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreMixed spice A British blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice for sweet bakingBlend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow

🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreCinnamon sugar A simple blend of ground cinnamon and granulated sugar used to sweeten and spice desserts.Sweet and mellow · Warm and sweet-spiced

🇬🇭 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

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreNew Mexico chilechile de Nuevo México A cultivar group of Capsicum annuum from New Mexico, valued for its smoky flavor and range of heat levels.Sharp and pungent · Sweet and mellow

🇹🇷 TurkeyUrfa biber A sun-dried and night-wrapped chili from Turkey with a smoky, raisin-like taste.Chilli · Smoky · Sweet and mellow

🇮🇳 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

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreGarden cress A fast-growing edible herb with peppery leaves and seeds used in salads and traditional medicine.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart

🇮🇳 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

🇭🇺 Hungary and 5 moreHorseradish A pungent root vegetable from Southeastern Europe used as a spicy condiment.Root · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇮🇳 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

🇵🇪 Peru and 3 morePink peppercornmulli The dried pink drupes of the Schinus molle tree, sold as a peppery alternative to black pepper.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright

🇨🇳 China and 5 moreShiso紫蘇 A mint-family herb with serrated leaves, used fresh or pickled across East Asia.Leaf · Herbal and green · Sharp and pungent

🇮🇳 IndiaEdayur chilliഎടയൂർ മുളക് A local Kerala cultivar with a GI tag, used for sun-dried curd chillies.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇲🇽 MexicoSerrano pepper A hot Mexican chili from mountain regions, used fresh in salsas and sauces.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇫🇷 FranceSel gris A coarse, moist sea salt harvested from the bottom of French salt pans.Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep

🇺🇸 United StatesCreole mustard A grainy paste of brown mustard seeds, vinegar, and horseradish from Louisiana.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart

🇮🇩 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

🇸🇩 Sudan and 5 moreTamarind The sweet and sour pulp of a tropical tree pod used in sauces and drinks.Fruit · Sweet and mellow · Sour and tart

🇮🇳 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

🇲🇽 MexicoGuajillo chilichile guajillo A dried Mexican pepper with a sweet, fruity flavor and mild heat.Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery

🇮🇳 IndiaByadagi chilliಬ್ಯಾಡಗಿ ಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ A deep red, mild cultivar from Karnataka prized for its colour and oleoresin.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇰🇷 South Korea and 5 moreKorean mint배초향 An anise-scented Asian mint leaf used in Korean stews and herbal traditionsLeaf · Anise and liquorice · Herbal and green

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreBlack pepper The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery

🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreBay Laurelδάφνη The dried leaf of a Mediterranean evergreen, used to infuse slow-cooked dishes with herbal depth.Sharp and pungent · Bitter

🇬🇳 Guinea and 5 moreGrains of paradise The pungent, citrus-tinged seeds of a West African ginger relative.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery

🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreSansho山椒 The dried berries and young leaves of a spiny Japanese shrub, prized for their numbing citrus heat.Seed · Citrus and bright · Numbing and tingling

🇬🇼 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

🇻🇳 Vietnam and 4 moreHouttuynia折耳根 A heart-shaped herb with a sharp fishy taste used in salads and teas across Asia.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright

🇵🇸 Palestine and 4 moreSyrian oreganoزَعْتَر The aromatic herb native to the Levant, essential for making za'atar.Warm and sweet-spiced · Herbal and green

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreBlack pepper The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery

🇮🇳 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.

Parsley: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Idli podi: Booradleyp1, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Garlic powder: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Turmeric: J.M.Garg, CC BY 3.0, source
Black salt: Jellyboots ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mixed spice: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Horseradish: Pethan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Urfa biber: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Houttuynia: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Epis: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Cumin: Sanjay Acharya, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Ginger: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, source
Pilpelchuma: מאור עטיה, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Pink peppercorn: Charles Gadbois, CC BY 3.0, source
Syrian oregano: Kippi70, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Shiso: Dalgial, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Edayur chilli: Sanalkumar Nv, CC0, source
Serrano pepper: Cindy, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Malagueta pepper: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil, CC BY 2.0, source
Black pepper: Rainer Zenz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Californian white sage: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Herbes de Provence: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
Cinnamon sugar: Ed! ( Photography Gallery ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
New Mexico chile: vxla, CC BY 2.0, source
Sel gris: Stéphane Gourichon, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Creole mustard: Mwaters1120, Public domain, source
Thyme: Evan-Amos, CC0, source
Shito: Flixtey, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Mala: Theorb, Public domain, source
Ginger: Venkatx5, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Tamarind: B.navez, CC BY 2.5, source
Fenugreek: Yak, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Guajillo chili: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
Byadagi chilli: Msclrfl22, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Kosher salt: Lexlex, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Korean mint: Dalgial, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Cardamom: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Basil: Castielli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Black pepper: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Fennel: Elekes Andor, CC BY 4.0, source
Bay Laurel: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, source
Grains of paradise: Lemmikkipuu, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Sansho: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Lunumiris: Yasith Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Calabash nutmeg: Samuel Curtis and William Jackson Hooker, Public domain, source
Za'atar: Sjschen, CC BY 3.0, source
Mustard seed: Pancrat, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Garden cress: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source