All spices
306 spices so far, best known first. 88 more are on the list to be written.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 5 moreCinnamon
The dried inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, prized for its sweet warmth and essential oil.Bark · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇬🇷 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
🇦🇹 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
🇮🇷 Iran and 4 moreSaffronزعفران
The dried crimson stigmas of the autumn-blooming saffron crocus.Stigma · Sharp and pungent · Bitter
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 moreNutmeg
The dried seed of a tropical evergreen tree, prized for its warm, pungent flavor.Seed · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 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
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreIndian prickly ash
A pungent fruit from a thorny shrub, used for its tingling spice in coastal India and Vietnam.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Numbing and tingling
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry paste
A blended mixture of spices and aromatics used as the base for curries in Asia.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇬🇭 Ghana and 5 moreGrains of Selimdiarr
The dried fruit of a West African shrub, used as a peppery spice and coffee flavouring.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Bitter
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreAnnatto
The orange-red pigment from achiote seeds used as a natural food coloring and mild spice.Seed · Earthy and deep · Sweet and mellow
🇫🇷 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
🇯🇵 JapanKarashiからし
A potent Japanese mustard made from brown mustard seeds, served as a sharp condiment.Seed · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 IndiaKairकैर
The spicy pink berry and flower bud of a drought-hardy desert bushFruit · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreMustard
A pungent paste made from ground mustard seeds mixed with liquid and spices.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 IndiaMalabar pepper
A Geographical Indication black pepper from Kerala and neighbouring regions.Seed · Sharp and pungent
🇱🇰 Sri LankaThuna pahaතුන පහ
A Sri Lankan unroasted curry powder made from cumin, fennel, and coriander seeds.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreMasticΜαστίχα
A bitter-sweet resin from the mastic tree, used in desserts and traditional medicine.Bitter · Sharp and pungent
🇪🇬 EgyptShattaشطة
A fermented chili and garlic condiment from the LevantHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreZhugسحوق
A Yemeni hot sauce of crushed chilies, garlic, and corianderHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇧🇷 Brazil and 5 moreMalagueta peppermalagueta
A small, fiery chili from Capsicum frutescens used across Portuguese-speaking regions.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇨🇲 Cameroon and 1 morePenja white pepper
A Cameroonian black pepper variety grown in the volcanic Penja Valley, protected by geographical indication.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇳🇬 NigeriaYaji
A spicy rub from Nigeria made with chili, ginger, and ground peanuts.Blend · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇱🇾 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 StatesSpicebush
The dried fruit of a North American shrub, used as an allspice substitute.Fruit · Citrus and bright · 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
🇭🇹 HaitiEpis
A blended flavor base of peppers, garlic, and herbs essential to Haitian cookingHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇬🇧 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
🇺🇸 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
🇲🇽 MexicoSalsa macha
A Mexican condiment of dried chilies and oil, crushed to a coarse texture.Paste · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇹 ItalyMostardamostarda di frutta
A northern Italian condiment of candied fruit in a sharp mustard syrupBlend · Sweet and mellow · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreGaram masalaगरम मसाला
A ground blend of warm spices from the Indian subcontinent used to finish curries and stews.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇦🇫 Afghanistan and 5 moreLovageлюбисток
A tall European herb with celery-like leaves and spicy seeds used in soups and broths.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Herbal and green
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGreater galangalข่า
The pungent rhizome of a ginger relative, essential in Southeast Asian soups and curries.Root · Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry powder
A Western adaptation of Indian spice blends for cooking sauces and stews.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSichuan pepper花椒 (huājiāo)
The dried husk of Zanthoxylum fruit, prized for its citrus scent and electric numbness.Fruit · Citrus and bright · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreBay leaf
The dried or fresh leaves of the laurel tree, used to infuse depth into slow-cooked dishes.Leaf · Herbal and green · Sharp and pungent
🇲🇦 Morocco and 2 moreRas el hanoutرأس الحانوت
A complex Maghrebi spice blend meaning 'head of the shop', used in savory dishes across North Africa.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇮🇷 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
🇪🇹 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
🇳🇱 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
🇨🇳 China and 4 moreFingerrootกระชาย
The finger-shaped rhizome of a tropical ginger relative, used fresh or pickled in Southeast Asian cooking.Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright
🇯🇵 JapanGariガリ
Thinly sliced young ginger pickled in sweet vinegar, served with sushi.Sweet and mellow · Sour and tart
🇯🇵 JapanShichimi七味唐辛子
A Japanese seven-ingredient spice blend for finishing soups and noodlesBlend · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright
🇮🇳 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
🇮🇳 IndiaChaat masala
A tangy Indian spice blend for savory snacks and fruit saladsBlend · Sour and tart · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 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
🇯🇴 Jordan and 5 moreBaharatبهارات
A versatile Middle Eastern spice blend used to season meats and soups.Warm and sweet-spiced · 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
- Sichuan pepper: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Curry powder: Slick, CC0, source
- Karashi: yoppy, CC BY 2.0, source
- Bay leaf: Χρήστης:Andrikkos / The original uploader was Andrikkos at Greek Wikip, Public domain, source
- Juniper berry: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 1.0, source
- Cinnamon: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ras el hanout: Sarefo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gari: DoWhile, Public domain, source
- Berbere: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Grains of Selim: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
- Black salt: Jellyboots ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fingerroot: Ariearsad, CC BY 4.0, source
- Caraway: Slick, CC0, source
- Pilpelchuma: מאור עטיה, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Asafoetida: Toyah, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Rock samphire: User:Jymm, Public domain, source
- Annatto: Porto Neto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Zhug: DonIncognito, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mastic: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Malagueta pepper: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil, CC BY 2.0, source
- Indian prickly ash: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Yaji: Salma kyari, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Curry paste: Ryan Snyder, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kair: T. R. Shankar Raman, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mustard: Rainer Zenz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dijon mustard: Rainer Zenz ., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Spicebush: Jomegat, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Californian white sage: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Epis: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Salsa macha: BurseraLinanoe, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Common prickly ash: A. Barra, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mostarda: Silvio, CC BY 2.0, source
- Penja white pepper: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Greater galangal: Raffi Kojian, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Garam masala: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Herbes de Provence: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
- Chaat masala: Khurram Shehzad / Flickr user: Lekum's ( https://www.flickr.com/photos, CC BY 2.0, source
- Cardamom: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mustard seed: Pancrat, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Shichimi: http://www.recipelab.jp/sozai/detail/1779/, CC0, source
- Malabar pepper: കാക്കര, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Nutmeg: Herusutimbul, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Saffron: Hubertl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lovage: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Shatta: 2kbfloppadisk, CC0, source