All spices
306 spices so far, best known first. 88 more are on the list to be written.
🇲🇦 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
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreHabanero
A very hot chili cultivar with a floral aroma, native to the Amazon and grown in Mexico.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Floral and perfumed
🇮🇷 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
🇵🇹 Portugal and 5 morePiri piri
A very hot African cultivar of Capsicum frutescens used for spicy sauces and marinadesChilli · Hot and fiery
🇳🇱 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
🇨🇳 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
🇬🇷 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
🇯🇵 JapanGariガリ
Thinly sliced young ginger pickled in sweet vinegar, served with sushi.Sweet and mellow · Sour and tart
🇲🇽 Mexico and 3 moreBird's eye chiliพริกขี้หนู
A small, intensely hot cultivar of Capsicum annuum native to Mexico and widely grown in Southeast Asia.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇯🇵 JapanShichimi七味唐辛子
A Japanese seven-ingredient spice blend for finishing soups and noodlesBlend · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright
🇯🇴 Jordan and 5 moreBaharatبهارات
A versatile Middle Eastern spice blend used to season meats and soups.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇹🇭 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
🇬🇪 GeorgiaKhmeli suneliხმელი სუნელი
A flexible Georgian blend of dried herbs and seeds for stews and meats.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreLong pepper
The dried fruit spike of a climbing vine native to Java, once the world's standard heat.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChili oil辣椒油
A red condiment of infused vegetable oil and hot peppers used across Asia and Europe.Hot and fiery · Smoky
🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 2 morePanch phoronপাঁচ ফোড়ন
A Bengali blend of five whole seeds used to temper dishesBlend · Bitter · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇪🇹 EthiopiaMitmitaሚጥሚጣ
A fiery Ethiopian spice blend of bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and cloves.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇵🇪 Peru and 3 morePink peppercornbaie rose
The dried fruit of Schinus trees, offering a sweet, piney heat distinct from black pepper.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Citrus and bright
🇨🇳 ChinaMala麻辣
A fiery, tongue-numbing Chinese seasoning of Sichuan pepper and chilliesPaste · Hot and fiery · Numbing and tingling
🇮🇳 IndiaTandoori masala
A spice blend for clay-oven cooking in the Indian subcontinentBlend · Hot and fiery
🇫🇷 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
🇮🇷 IranAdviehادویه
A fragrant blend of spices used to season rice and stews in Iranian cooking.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 morePoblano
A mild Mexican chili pepper that becomes the dried ancho when mature.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreHawaijحوايج
A ground Yemeni spice blend used for soups, coffee, and everyday cooking.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaAmchoorआमचूर
A sour powder made from dried unripe green mangoes, used to add tang to Indian dishes.Seed · Sour and tart · Citrus and bright
🇺🇸 United StatesKosher salt
Coarse edible salt used for dry brining and general cooking, typically free of iodine.Sharp and pungent
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreFleur de sel
A hand-raked crust of sea salt crystals gathered from evaporation pans.Earthy and deep
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreRecado rojo
A red-orange paste of annatto and spices used to marinate meats in Yucatán cuisine.Earthy and deep · Sharp and pungent
🇹🇳 TunisiaTabilتابل
A Tunisian blend of coriander, caraway, garlic, and chili used to season stews.Sharp and pungent · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇯🇲 Jamaica and 2 moreAllspice
The dried green berry of a tropical tree, named for its blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove notes.Fruit · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇨🇳 China and 2 moreCrushed red pepper
Dried and crushed chilli peppers, often with seeds, used as a spicy condiment.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇦🇺 Australia and 3 moreSeasoned salt
A dry mix of salt and spices used to flavour fried foods and meats.Savoury and umami
🇰🇭 CambodiaKampot pepperម្រេចកំពត
A Cambodian cultivar of black pepper with a protected geographical indication status.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇮🇹 ItalyPeperoncino
A hot Italian chili pepper used in southern cuisine, dried and crushed for heat.Chilli · 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
🇬🇭 GhanaShitoshitor din
A dark, spicy sauce made from fried fish and peppers, central to Ghanaian cooking.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇲🇽 MexicoCascabel chili
A dried Mexican pepper with loose seeds that rattle like a bellHot and fiery · Smoky
🇺🇸 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
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreFresno chile
A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar with a conical shape and bright red skin.Chilli · Hot and fiery · 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
🇰🇷 South KoreaKorean brining salt왕소금
A coarse, minimally processed salt used for fermenting kimchi in Korea.Seasoning · Sour and tart
🇵🇭 PhilippinesSiling haba
A long, bright green chili from the Philippines, prized for moderate heat in sour and savory stews.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 IndiaVadouvan
A French-Indian spice blend combining dried aromatics with ground seedsWarm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreAlligator pepper
The seed pods of West African ginger plants, named for the bumpy texture of their inner kernels.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇹🇳 TunisiaQâlat daqqaقلات دقة
A Tunisian blend of five warm spices used to season meats and vegetablesWarm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Panch phoron: Wiki-uk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Allspice: Unknown author, CC BY 2.5, source
- Juniper berry: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 1.0, source
- Idli podi: Booradleyp1, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Garlic powder: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Peperoncino: Ramac, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ras el hanout: Sarefo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gari: DoWhile, Public domain, source
- Tandoori masala: Kamava1971, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Recado rojo: Paul Goyette, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Piri piri: Bovineone at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Berbere: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Khmeli suneli: А. Кабанов, CC0, source
- Mitmita: Caffe Vita, CC BY 2.0, source
- Fresno chile: Nadiatalent, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Urfa biber: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hawaij: Mx. Granger, CC0, source
- Vadouvan: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bird's eye chili: Daniel Risacher, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Asafoetida: Toyah, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cascabel chili: Jessica and Lon Binder, CC BY 2.0, source
- Fleur de sel: Fleur de Sel sea salt. Ile de Re 2005, personal photograph., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Thai basil: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Alligator pepper: NsirimS, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Long pepper: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Herbes de Provence: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, source
- Habanero: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Seasoned salt: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pink peppercorn: Milvus, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- New Mexico chile: vxla, CC BY 2.0, source
- Siling haba: Bagoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Thyme: Evan-Amos, CC0, source
- Chili oil: Alpha, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Shito: Flixtey, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mala: Theorb, Public domain, source
- Amchoor: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Kosher salt: Lexlex, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Espelette pepper: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Shichimi: http://www.recipelab.jp/sozai/detail/1779/, CC0, source
- Crushed red pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Fingerroot: Ariearsad, CC BY 4.0, source
- Kampot pepper: PsamatheM, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Korean brining salt: 국립국어원, CC BY-SA 2.0 kr, source
- Poblano: stef yau, CC BY 2.0, source