Spices of Europe
Paprika and caraway, herbes de Provence, mulled-wine and gingerbread spices, and the ports that once ran the spice trade. 28 spices on EveryMasala so far.
Spice cities, markets and growing areas
Dijon 2Île de Ré 2Kalocsa 2Ainhoa 1Alcochete 1Bresse 1Burgundy 1Cambo-les-Bains 1Cervia 1Cremona 1Danubian Lowland 1Ebro Delta 1Espelette 1Florina 1Franche-Comté 1Guerande 1Guérande 1Hallertau 1Halsou 1Ile de Noirmoutier 1Itxassou 1Jatxou 1Jerf el Ahmar 1Kent 1La Vera 1Lodosa 1Mâcon 1Majorca 1Mantova 1Meaux 1
Blends of the region
Curry powderQuatre epicesHerbes de ProvenceMixed spice (pudding spice)Speculaas spice (speculoos)Mulled wine spices (Gluhwein)Lebkuchen spice (Lebkuchengewuerz)
Countries
🇦🇱 Albania 1🇦🇹 Austria 2🇧🇾 Belarus🇧🇪 Belgium🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina🇧🇬 Bulgaria 2🇭🇷 Croatia 2🇨🇿 Czech Republic 2🇪🇪 Estonia🇫🇮 Finland 1🇫🇷 France 13🇩🇪 Germany 6🇬🇷 Greece 11🇭🇺 Hungary 7🇮🇸 Iceland 3🇮🇪 Ireland 2🇮🇹 Italy 13🇱🇻 Latvia 2🇱🇹 Lithuania🇲🇹 Malta 1🇲🇪 Montenegro 1🇳🇱 Netherlands 2🇳🇴 Norway🇵🇱 Poland 5🇵🇹 Portugal 11🇷🇴 Romania 2🇷🇺 Russia 5🇷🇸 Serbia 1🇸🇰 Slovakia 1🇸🇮 Slovenia🇪🇸 Spain 13🇸🇪 Sweden 2🇨🇭 Switzerland 1🇺🇦 Ukraine 2🇬🇧 United Kingdom 10
🇦🇹 Austria and 5 moreCaraway
The crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family herb, used to flavour breads and spirits.Seed · Anise and liquorice · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇹 ItalyMostardamostarda di frutta
A northern Italian condiment of candied fruit in a sharp mustard syrupBlend · Sweet and mellow · Sharp and pungent
🇪🇸 SpainChoricero pepperspimiento choricero
A dried red pepper from Spain used to make rich stews and sauces.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Smoky
🇫🇷 France and 1 moreDijon mustardMoutarde de Dijon
A sharp condiment made from brown mustard seeds and white wine or verjuice, originating in Burgundy.Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart
🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreMustard
A pungent paste made from ground mustard seeds mixed with liquid and spices.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇸🇰 SlovakiaPaprika Žitava
A sweet red spice from Slovakia's Danubian Lowland, ground with a special stone to release its colour.Seed · Sweet and mellow
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreRock samphire
A coastal succulent with peppery leaves and carrot-scented roots, used fresh or pickled.Leaf · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇳🇱 Netherlands and 5 moreJuniper berry
The fleshy seed cone of the juniper tree, a piney spice for game and gin.Sharp and pungent · 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
🇫🇷 France and 1 moreEspelette pepperpiment d'Espelette
A mild Basque chili with sweet, fruity notes and protected origin status.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreFleur de sel
A hand-raked crust of sea salt crystals gathered from evaporation pans.Earthy and deep
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreMixed spice
A British blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice for sweet bakingBlend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇹 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
🇮🇹 ItalyCommon thyme
A woody Mediterranean herb with small grey-green leaves and a sharp, spicy-sweet flavour.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Sweet and mellow
🇫🇷 FranceRomenay pepperpiment de Romenay
A compact, mild French chili cultivated in the historical province of Bresse.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇭🇺 HungaryCherry peppercseresznyepaprika
A small Capsicum annuum cultivar from Hungary, used for paprika and preserves.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇪🇸 SpainPaprika Tap de CortíPimentón de Mallorca
A sweet, sun-dried ground pepper from the Balearic Islands, prized for its deep red colour and antioxidant properties.Seed · Sweet and mellow · Earthy and deep
🇪🇸 SpainPiquillo pepperpimientos del piquillo
A sweet, mild red chili cultivar from Northern Spain, prized for its thick flesh and gentle heat.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇬🇷 GreeceFlorina pepperπιπεριά Φλωρίνης
A sweet, horn-shaped red pepper from northern Greece with Protected Designation of Origin status.Fruit · Sweet and mellow
🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreChives
The hollow leaves and purple flowers of a widespread perennial herb in the onion family.Leaf
🇫🇷 France and 2 moreCorsican mint
A tiny creeping mint from the Mediterranean islands, known for its strong peppermint scent and low-growing habit.Leaf · Sharp and pungent
🇲🇦 Morocco and 2 morePeppermint
A hybrid mint with a sharp cooling taste, used in teas, oils, and flavourings.Leaf
🇮🇹 Italy and 1 moreFriggitello
A mild sweet Italian chilli often pickled, known for its complex flavour and slight heat.Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇬🇪 Georgia and 1 moreBlue fenugreekუცხო სუნელი
The blue-flowered annual herb that seasons Georgian stews and Swiss cheeseSeed · Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇫🇷 FranceSel gris
A coarse, moist sea salt harvested from the bottom of French salt pans.Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇭🇺 HungaryAlmapaprika
A thick-fleshed Hungarian sweet pepper variety used for pickling and traditional dishes.Fruit · Hot and fiery
🇦🇹 Austria and 5 moreCaraway
The crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family plant, used to flavour rye bread and spirits.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Anise and liquorice
🇩🇪 Germany and 4 moreHops
The green female flower cones of a climbing vine, used to bitter and flavour beer.Flower · Bitter · Sharp and pungent
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Juniper berry: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 1.0, source
- Fleur de sel: Fleur de Sel sea salt. Ile de Re 2005, personal photograph., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Red Sulmona Garlic: Marica Massaro, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cherry pepper: James Lee, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mixed spice: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hops: LuckyStarr, CC BY 2.5, source
- Caraway: Slick, CC0, source
- Piquillo pepper: sindändùne -, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Florina pepper: https://www.aglaiakremezi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Peppers-pan-S, CC0, source
- Chives: Jamain, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Corsican mint: SB Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Common thyme: Isidre blanc, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rock samphire: User:Jymm, Public domain, source
- Mustard: Rainer Zenz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dijon mustard: Rainer Zenz ., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Choricero peppers: Tamorlan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mostarda: Silvio, CC BY 2.0, source
- Paprika Tap de Cortí: Berin, CC BY 3.0, source
- Espelette pepper: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Herbes de Provence: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
- Sel gris: Stéphane Gourichon, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Peppermint: Unknown author, CC BY 3.0, source
- Friggitello: User:CFang, Public domain, source
- Blue fenugreek: Flyout, CC BY-SA 3.0, source