Live, Monday, 5 October 2026
Cooking today
What is on the calendar right now: the harvests, festivals and feasts under way, the spices for the meal in front of you, and one spice to get to know.
Nothing on the calendar today
No day in the calendar falls today. Here is what is coming.
Right now
What to cook, by meal
Opens at the meal nearest your clock.
Spiced porridges, eggs, chai, upma and the first meal of the day. All breakfast spices
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 2 moreCardamom
Aromatic seeds from spindle-shaped pods used in sweet and savory dishes across Asia and the Middle East.Seed 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Hot and fiery
馃嚤馃嚢 Sri Lanka and 5 moreCinnamon
The dried inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, prized for its sweet warmth and essential oil.Bark 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 路 Sweet and mellow
馃嚘馃嚬 Austria and 5 moreCaraway
The crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family herb, used to flavour breads and spirits.Seed 路 Anise and liquorice 路 Sharp and pungent
馃嚠馃嚛 Indonesia and 3 moreNutmeg
The dried seed of a tropical evergreen tree, prized for its warm, pungent flavor.Seed 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 路 Sweet and mellow
馃嚘馃嚭 AustraliaWattleseed
The edible seed of Australian Acacia trees, traditionally ground into flour by Aboriginal Australians.Seed 路 Sweet and mellow 路 Earthy and deep
Thalis, rice plates, stews and sandwiches: the midday meal. All lunch spices
馃嚜馃嚬 EthiopiaMitmita釄氠尌釄氠專
A fiery Ethiopian spice blend of bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and cloves.Blend 路 Hot and fiery 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Hot and fiery
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 4 moreBasil
A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf 路 Anise and liquorice 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚘馃嚝 Afghanistan and 5 moreLovage谢褞斜懈褋褌芯泻
A tall European herb with celery-like leaves and spicy seeds used in soups and broths.Leaf 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Herbal and green
馃嚫馃嚲 Syria and 5 moreSumac
A tart, crimson spice made from ground berries of the Rhus coriaria shrub.Seed 路 Sour and tart 路 Citrus and bright
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 5 moreChili pepperch墨lli
The pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.Fruit 路 Hot and fiery 路 Earthy and deep
The main meal of the evening: curries, roasts, braises and grills. All dinner spices
馃嚜馃嚬 EthiopiaMitmita釄氠尌釄氠專
A fiery Ethiopian spice blend of bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and cloves.Blend 路 Hot and fiery 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Hot and fiery
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 4 moreBasil
A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf 路 Anise and liquorice 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚠馃嚪 Iran and 4 moreSaffron夭毓賮乇丕賳
The dried crimson stigmas of the autumn-blooming saffron crocus.Stigma 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Bitter
馃嚘馃嚝 Afghanistan and 5 moreLovage谢褞斜懈褋褌芯泻
A tall European herb with celery-like leaves and spicy seeds used in soups and broths.Leaf 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Herbal and green
馃嚫馃嚲 Syria and 5 moreSumac
A tart, crimson spice made from ground berries of the Rhus coriaria shrub.Seed 路 Sour and tart 路 Citrus and bright
The light, late meal: soups, flatbreads and leftovers brought back to life. All supper spices
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Hot and fiery
馃嚡馃嚧 Jordan and 5 moreBaharat亘賴丕乇丕鬲
A versatile Middle Eastern spice blend used to season meats and soups.Warm and sweet-spiced 路 Sharp and pungent
馃嚝馃嚪 FranceSel gris
A coarse, moist sea salt harvested from the bottom of French salt pans.Sharp and pungent 路 Earthy and deep
Spiced nuts, crisps, fritters, chaat and everything eaten between meals. All snack spices
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 2 moreCardamom
Aromatic seeds from spindle-shaped pods used in sweet and savory dishes across Asia and the Middle East.Seed 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚜馃嚬 EthiopiaMitmita釄氠尌釄氠專
A fiery Ethiopian spice blend of bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and cloves.Blend 路 Hot and fiery 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Hot and fiery
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 4 moreBasil
A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf 路 Anise and liquorice 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚫馃嚲 Syria and 5 moreSumac
A tart, crimson spice made from ground berries of the Rhus coriaria shrub.Seed 路 Sour and tart 路 Citrus and bright
馃嚬馃嚪 Turkey and 5 moreBay Laurel未维蠁谓畏
The dried leaf of a Mediterranean evergreen, used to infuse slow-cooked dishes with herbal depth.Sharp and pungent 路 Bitter
Monday traditions
Shiva's day for many Hindus, the day of the lunar fast, and the laundry day of red beans and rice in New Orleans.
Spice of the day
Coming up in the next six weeks
In 3 days, about 8 Oct 2026MehreganThe autumn festival of friendship and harvest, with saffron rice, barberry and pomegranate.
In 6 days, 11 to 19 Oct 2026Navratri fasting foodNine nights of fasting, when rock salt, cumin, green chilli and black pepper replace the usual spice box.
In 6 days, 11 to 25 Oct 2026DashainNepal's biggest festival: tika, family reunions and goat curry thick with ginger, garlic and timur.
In 10 days, about 15 Oct to 11 Feb 2027Zanzibar clove harvestFrom July to December, Pemba and Unguja pick the flower buds of the clove tree, climbing tall trees by hand.
In 12 days, 17 to 20 Oct 2026Durga Puja bhogBengal's great autumn festival, with khichuri bhog, labra and chutney cooked for the goddess and shared by all.
In 13 days, about 18 Oct 2026Senor de los MilagrosLima's purple month, when turron de Dona Pepa, with anise and clove syrup, and anticuchos with aji panca are sold in the streets.
In 15 days, 20 Oct 2026Dussehra feastThe victory day that ends Navratri, marked with saffron jalebi, fafda and a ritual of the new rice.
In 15 days, about 20 Oct to 8 Nov 2026Saffron harvest in KashmirIn late October, the purple crocus fields of Pampore are picked at dawn and the red stigmas are plucked by hand.
In 25 days, about 30 Oct to 1 Nov 2026Taliouine saffron festivalIn the Anti-Atlas, the crocus harvest and its three-day festival, with crocus picked at dawn and saffron tea.
In 26 days, about 31 Oct to 1 Nov 2026Fiesta de la Rosa del AzafranIn La Mancha, the saffron rose festival of Consuegra, with contests of peeling the flower and windmills as the backdrop.
In 26 days, about 31 Oct to 1 Nov 2026Espelette pepper festivalThe Basque village's late October fete, with strings of red peppers on house walls and the AOP chilli on every plate.
In 27 days, 1 to 2 Nov 2026Day of the DeadMexico's days of remembrance, with ofrendas of pan de muerto, mole and hot chocolate scented with cinnamon.
In 31 days, 5 Nov 2026Bonfire Night and parkinBritain's fireworks night, with treacle toffee and parkin, a sticky ginger cake of Yorkshire.
In 32 days, 6 Nov 2026DhanterasThe day for buying new vessels, when coriander seed and jaggery are offered to Lakshmi in many homes.
In 32 days, 6 to 10 Nov 2026Tihar in NepalNepal's five days of lights, with sel roti and a meal of lentils flavoured with jimbu and timur.
In 33 days, 7 to 8 Nov 2026Terlingua chili cookoffThe first Saturday of November, when cooks in a Texas ghost town compete with chilli seasoned with cumin, ancho and cayenne.
In 34 days, 8 to 12 Nov 2026Diwali, the festival of sweetsFive days of lamps and sweets, when cardamom, saffron and nutmeg are the scents of every kitchen in India.
In 39 days, 13 to 16 Nov 2026Chhath PujaThe four-day sun worship of Bihar, with thekua, fried in ghee and perfumed with fennel and cardamom, as the key offering.
In 41 days, about 15 to 28 Nov 2026KimjangThe communal making of winter kimchi, with mountains of cabbage packed with gochugaru, garlic, ginger and fish sauce.Spice news
- Chicago-Area Brand The Spice Drops Launches a Concentrated Chili Oil That Makes Food Spicy Without Changing the FlavorNosh.com, Chilli
- Saffron In The Cold Desert? Ladakh Is Putting 90,000 Iranian Corms To The TestNDTV Profit, Harvest
- Uttar Pradesh Gears Up To Become Global Hub For Spice Processing & ExportsFree Press Journal, Markets
- Why 100 UP Farmers Are Growing Turmeric to Reduce Elephant Crop RaidsThe Better India, Harvest
- Kashmir Squanders SaffronKashmir Observer, Harvest
- Chesapeake Chili Crisp? A DC-Area Chef Is Putting Unexpected Spins on the Condiment.Washingtonian, Chilli
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Clove: Bayu Nugroho, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chili pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cinnamon: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Caraway: Slick, CC0, source
- Sicilian sumac: Dedda71, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wattleseed: division, CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, source
- Mitmita: Caffe Vita, CC BY 2.0, source
- Espelette pepper: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sel gris: St茅phane Gourichon, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cardamom: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Basil: Castielli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Black pepper: David Monniaux, 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
- Bay Laurel: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, source
- Diwali Sweets: Kalli navya, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dhanteras: The original uploader was F16 at Hebrew Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Navratri Vrat Food: Mukerjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dussehra Jalebi: DiplomatTesterMan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chhath Puja: Steffen Gauger, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Durga Puja Bhog: Subhrajyoti07, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tihar Nepal: Sreekumar K. S., CC BY 2.0, source
- Dashain Nepal: Unknown author, CC0, source
- Kimjang: USAG- Humphreys, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mehregan: PersianDutchNetwork, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Taliouine Saffron Festival: Hydroxy, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Day Of The Dead: RubeHM, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Terlingua Chili Cookoff: Carstor, CC BY-SA 2.5, source