Spices of Southeast Asia
The Spice Islands of cloves and nutmeg, and the pastes of lemongrass, galangal, chilli and shrimp that anchor the cooking of the region. 35 spices on EveryMasala so far.
Spice cities, markets and growing areas
Java 3New Delhi 2Sumatra 2Yunnan 2Banda Islands 1Borneo 1Kampot Province 1Kep Province 1Kerinci 1Luang Prabang 1Mantai 1Meghalaya 1Mizoram 1Penang 1Ternate 1Yunnan Province 1BangkokBoholCapizGuimarasHanoiJakartaKampotKuchingMalaccaMalukuNonthaburiTernate and Tidore
Blends of the region
SambalRendang spice paste (bumbu)Thai red curry pasteMassaman curry pasteMalaysian meat curry powder
Countries
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreIndonesian bay leafdaun salam
The aromatic leaves of a Myrtaceae tree used to flavour soups and stews across Indonesia and Suriname.Leaf · Bitter
🇹🇭 Thailand and 3 moreThai basilโหระพา
A Southeast Asian herb with purple stems and anise notes, used in curries and soups.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Hot and fiery
🇲🇾 Malaysia and 3 moreKesum
An aromatic herb from Southeast Asia, used fresh in salads and soups.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Herbal and green
🇻🇳 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
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 morePandan
The fragrant leaf of a sterile screwpine, used to scent rice and desserts across Asia.Leaf · Sweet and mellow · Floral and perfumed
🇹🇭 Thailand and 5 moreKaffir limeมะกรูด
The bumpy-skinned citrus fruit and double-leafed shrub of Southeast AsiaFruit · Citrus and bright · Sharp and pungent
🇰🇭 Cambodia and 5 moreVietnamese corianderrau răm
The fresh leaves of a tropical herb used in Southeast Asian soups and saladsLeaf · Citrus and bright · Sharp and pungent
🇱🇦 Laos and 5 moreLemon basil
A hybrid herb with a bright citrus scent, used across Southeast Asia and Africa.Leaf · Citrus and bright · Herbal and green
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreKencur沙姜
A stemless ginger-family rhizome with a peppery, camphorous biteRoot · Sharp and pungent · Herbal and green
🇻🇳 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
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Pandan: Zuhairali, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Houttuynia: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kencur: Hariadhi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Indonesian bay leaf: W.A. Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Thai basil: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kaffir lime: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Vietnamese coriander: Joditran, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lemon basil: Kembangraps, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Rice paddy herb: Emilia Murray, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Kesum: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0, source