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.
🇵🇪 Peru and 5 moreChili pepperchīlli
The pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 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
🇱🇦 Laos and 2 moreKhao khuaເຂົ້າຂົ້ວ
Dry-toasted sticky rice, ground rough, the nutty backbone of Lao laabSeed · Smoky
🇨🇳 ChinaYongfeng chili sauce永丰辣酱
A fermented paste of peppers, rice and wheat from Hunan province, one of the region's three treasures.Paste · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 IndiaKairकैर
The spicy pink berry and flower bud of a drought-hardy desert bushFruit · 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
🇬🇪 GeorgiaUtskho suneliუცხო სუნელი
A Georgian spice blend centered on blue fenugreek, with roots in Persian and Mughal traditions.Earthy and deep · Herbal and green
🇮🇳 IndiaKewraकेवड़ा
A fragrant essential oil distilled from the male flowers of the screwpine plant.Resin · Sweet and mellow · Floral and perfumed
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreHilbehحلبة
A frothy Yemeni condiment made from ground fenugreek seeds and waterPaste · Bitter · Earthy and deep
🇰🇭 CambodiaKroeungគ្រឿង
The pounded herb paste that gives Khmer dishes their base flavourPaste · Herbal and green · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 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
🇧🇷 Brazil and 5 moreMalagueta peppermalagueta
A small, fiery chili from Capsicum frutescens used across Portuguese-speaking regions.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇹🇷 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
🇭🇹 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
🇮🇳 IndiaErode TurmericErodu Manjal
A Geographical Indication turmeric from Tamil Nadu with high curcumin content.Root · Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇰🇭 CambodiaKampot sea saltអំបិលសមុទ្រកំពត
Hand-harvested sea salt from the coastal provinces of CambodiaSeasoning
🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස්
A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreCommon prickly ash
An aromatic North American tree whose bark and berries give a sharp, numbing biteBark · Bitter · Numbing and tingling
🇮🇷 Iran and 2 moreAsafoetida
A pungent gum-resin from the Ferula plant, used as a garlic and onion substitute in South Asian cooking.Resin · Sharp and pungent · 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
🇪🇹 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
🇬🇷 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
🇬🇪 GeorgiaKhmeli suneliხმელი სუნელი
A flexible Georgian blend of dried herbs and seeds for stews and meats.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇨🇳 ChinaMala麻辣
A fiery, tongue-numbing Chinese seasoning of Sichuan pepper and chilliesPaste · Hot and fiery · Numbing and tingling
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 morePoblano
A mild Mexican chili pepper that becomes the dried ancho when mature.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇺🇸 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
🇨🇳 China and 1 moreGarlic powder
A dry, savory spice made from dehydrated and ground garlic cloves.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇬🇭 GhanaShitoshitor din
A dark, spicy sauce made from fried fish and peppers, central to Ghanaian cooking.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇺🇸 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
🇺🇸 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
🇮🇳 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
🇹🇷 TurkeyUrfa biber
A sun-dried and night-wrapped chili from Turkey with a smoky, raisin-like taste.Chilli · Smoky · Sweet and mellow
🇯🇵 Japan and 4 moreMugwort艾草 (ài cǎo)
Aromatic leaves from the Artemisia genus used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine.Leaf · Bitter · Herbal and green
🇮🇹 ItalyRed Sulmona GarlicAglio rosso di Sulmona
A traditional garlic cultivar from the Abruzzo region of Italy, grown on the Sulmona plateau.Bulb · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇰🇷 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
🇯🇵 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
🇮🇹 Italy and 2 moreCommon sage
The gray-green leaves of a Mediterranean perennial used in European roasts and traditional remedies.Leaf · Herbal and green
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Garlic powder: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Idli podi: Booradleyp1, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chili pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Red Sulmona Garlic: Marica Massaro, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Yongfeng chili sauce: Elena0100, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Berbere: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Khmeli suneli: А. Кабанов, CC0, source
- Fennel: Elekes Andor, CC BY 4.0, source
- Parsley: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Epis: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mixed spice: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pilpelchuma: מאור עטיה, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Asafoetida: Toyah, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Poppy seed: Odedr, Public domain, source
- Malagueta pepper: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil, CC BY 2.0, source
- East Indian arrowroot: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kroeung: Goomba King ( en:User:Trilinguist ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hilbeh: شرعب السلام, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kewra: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Utskho suneli: T.Tseng, CC BY 2.0, source
- Californian white sage: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cinnamon sugar: Ed! ( Photography Gallery ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- New Mexico chile: vxla, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mala: Theorb, Public domain, source
- Korean mint: Dalgial, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kair: T. R. Shankar Raman, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cardamom: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Black pepper: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Khao khua: Isan1985, CC0, source
- Common prickly ash: A. Barra, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bay Laurel: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, 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
- Common sage: Kurt Stüber [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Poblano: stef yau, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kampot sea salt: James Antrobus, CC BY 2.0, source
- Thyme: Evan-Amos, CC0, source
- Erode Turmeric: Sivaranjani, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kosher salt: Lexlex, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Shito: Flixtey, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Herbes de Provence: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mustard seed: Pancrat, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Urfa biber: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Black salt: Jellyboots ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Basil: Castielli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source