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SPICES1123

Steven C Seideman

Extension Food Processing Specialist

Cooperative Extension Service

University of Arkansas

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HISTORY The quest for spices have an important part in

world discovery. Marco Polos trips to the orient for spices and Christopher Columbus’s ocean voyage to discover a shorter route to the far east for spices.

The East India Company of England started in the 1600s initiated worldwide colonialism and slavery in their quest for spice trade.

Another module in this series “Food Additives; 1212” discusses salt, sugar and other food additives that effect flavor.

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SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPICES

Food processors rarely use whole spices because of the microbial content and appearance.

Many natural spices are irradiated or treated with a gas to reduce the microbial load.

Spice extractives are often ‘plated” on dextrose or salt as a carrier.

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SPICE COMPANIES There are several large spice suppliers that

can assist in duplicating a flavor match to any product you have. They have highly trained people who can taste a food and tell what spices are in it and how much.

On ingredient labels, the exact spices used do not have to be labeled. Just reads “Spice” or “Spice Extractives”.

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SPICES

The following covers some of the natural spices including the part of the plant used, description, source and uses arranged in alphabetical order. Descriptions and drawings are from the American Spice Trade Association.

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ALLSPICE ALLSPICE; Whole, ground Description; Brown berry with clove-

like flavor. Sources; Jamaica, Guatemala,

Mexico. Uses; Baked goods, fruit desserts,

yellow vegetables, pickles, relishes, marinades.

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ANISE SEED ANISE SEED; Whole, ground Description; Small, greenish-brown

seeds; Licorice-like taste. Sources; Spain, Egypt, Mexico. Uses; Baked goods, especially

cookies and fruit pies. Excellent with poultry and veal.

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BASIL BASIL; Whole (leaf). Description; As packaged, bits of green

leaves; aromatic, mildly pungent. Sources; U.S., Hungary, France, Bulgaria. Uses; Spaghetti sauce, cooked vegetables

(esp. tomatoes), seafood, poultry, salads.

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BAY LEAVES BAY LEAVES; Whole. Description; Large, pale green leaves;

Fragrant, slightly bitter taste. Sources; Turkey Uses; Stews, soups, marinades,

casseroles of meat, fowl, fish and seafood.

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CARAWAY SEEDS CARAWAY SEEDS; Whole Description; Curved brown seeds;

warm, tangy taste. Sources; Netherlands, Poland,

Denmark. Uses; Breads, cheese dips and

spreads, sauerkraut, pork and beef casseroles.

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CARDAMON SEED CARDAMON SEED; Whole pods;

Ground seeds. Description; Buff or green-colored

pods containing small brown seeds; strong, exotic aroma.

Sources; Guatemala, India. Uses; Coffee cakes, cookies, buns,

pumpkin and apple pies, hot coffee.

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CELERY FLAKES CELERY FLAKES; Flakes Description; Dehydrated flaked stalks

of vegetative celery. Sources; Primarily U.S. Uses; In any celery-seasoned dishes,

especially meat sauces, soups, stews, casseroles, stuffing.

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CELERY SEED CELERY SEED; Whole, ground and

as celery salt. Description; Tiny seeds from a special

strain of celery, not the same as the vegetable.

Sources; India, France, China, Uses; Meat loaves, stews, croquettes,

salad dressings, coleslaw and eggs.

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CHIVES CHIVES; freeze-dried. Description; Small, cross-cut selections of

chive shoots, with delicate onion taste. Sources; U.S. Uses; Sour cream (for baked potatoes),

eggs, cottage cheese, any cooked vegetables, cocktail dips, creamy sauces, salad dressings.

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CINNAMON CINNAMON; Whole stick; ground Description; Tan to reddish brown sticks or

rolled bark with aromatic, sweet, pungent taste.

Sources; Indonesia, China. Uses; Most important baking spice, also

puddings, sweet sauces, and frozen desserts. Excellent with chocolates, most fruits.

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CLOVES CLOVES: Whole; Ground. Description; Nail-sharp flower bud and stem

with strong, sweet aroma. Sources; Madagascar, Zanzibar, Indonesia. Uses; (Whole) Pressed into ham and pork.

In fruit desserts, pickling fruits, stews, gravies, root vegetables. (Ground) Baked goods, beverages.

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CUMIN SEED CUMIN SEED: (Cominos) Whole; Ground. Description; Yellowish-brown seeds with

strong, aroma, reminiscent of caraway. Sources; Iran, India. Uses; In chili and curry powders; deviled

eggs, soups, sauerkraut, pork, cheese dishes.

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DILL DILL: Whole seeds or “weed” (leaves). Description; Light brown, oval seeds

with warm, caraway-like taste. Dill weed is milder.

Sources; India(seed); U.S. (weed). Uses; Pickles, fish, sauces, cabbage,

potatoes, green beans, cauliflower, salad dressings, stuffing.

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FENNEL SEED FENNEL SEED; Whole Description; Yellowish-brown seeds

with licorice-like aroma. Sources; India, Lebanon, China. Uses; Chicken, seafood sauces and

pork dishes, breads, rolls, coffee cakes, sweet vegetables.

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GARLIC GARLIC; Minced; powder; granulated;

salt. Description; Dehydrates forms are the

most common. Strong, savory taste. Sources; U.S. Uses; All kinds of meats, shellfish,

bread, salad dressings, soups, sauces, casseroles.

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GINGER GINGER; Whole, Ground Description; Irregularly shaped pieces of

tan-colored roots with spicy, warm flavor. Sources; Jamaica, India, Nigeria, China. Uses; Ginger Ale, gingerbread, spice cakes,

cookies, beef and chicken dishes, sauces and marinades

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MACE MACE; Ground. Description; Lacy, orange-colored layer from

nutmeg fruit. Aroma nutmeg-like but stronger.

Sources; Indonesia, West Indies Uses; Cherry pie, fruit cakes, pound cakes,

sweet vegetables, sauces, chowders, creamed spinach or chicken.

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MARJORAM MARJORAM; Whole (leaf); ground. Description; As packaged, whole bits

of grayish-green leaves with aromatic, savory flavor.

Sources; France, Egypt. Uses; Roast meats, poultry, fish, green

vegetables, salads, herbed breads.

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MINT FLAKES MINT FLAKES; Flakes Description; Broken dried spearmint

leaves. Sources; Egypt, Bulgaria. Uses; Fruit desserts, spice teas, fruit

drinks, tossed green salads, lamb dishes, pickled beets.

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MUSTARD SEED MUSTARD SEED; Whole; Ground;

Powdered. Description; Tiny seeds, yellowish to

reddish-brown. Powdered develops sharp, pungent taste when water is added.

Sources; Canada, U.K., Denmark, U.S. Uses; Powdered-Cheese dishes, deviled

eggs, ham salads, sauces. Seed-Pickles, salads.

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NUTMEG NUTMEG; Whole; Ground. Description; Large, brownish seed

(nut); Sweet, warm aroma and taste. Sources; Indonesia, West Indies. Uses; Cakes, cookies, pies, puddings,

eggnog, custards, any lemon dessert, corn, creamed spinach, chicken, seafood.

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ONION ONION: Instant minced, diced, chopped,

sliced, flakes, salad onion, minced green, powder, granulated, salt.

Description; Dehydrated forms of onion with characteristic taste.

Sources; U.S. Uses; Most dishes except dessert, esp

meats, poultry, seafood, salads, vegetables, soups, sauces, eggs.

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OREGANO OREGANO; Whole (leaf) Description; As packaged, small

pieces of green leaves with strong, pleasant aroma and taste.

Sources; Mexico, Greece, Turkey. Uses; The “pizza herb”; Also in

spaghetti, other Italian dishes, meat, cheese, fish, eggs.

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PAPRIKA PAPRIKA; Ground only Description; Rich red powder; slightly

sweet taste; some forms are “nippy”. Sources; U.S., Spain, Hungary. Uses; The “garnish spice”. Also used

for flavor in creamed, mild flavored foods such as Welsh rarebit, deviled eggs, sour creamed dips, bisques.

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PARSLEY FLAKES PARSLEY FLAKES; Flakes Description; Flakes of dried bright

green leaves with mild, agreeable aroma and taste.

Sources; U.S., Hungary. Uses; In sauces for meats, poultry,

fish, vegetables, scrambled eggs, stuffing, soups, salad dressings.

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BLACK PEPPER BLACK PEPPER; Whole peppercorns,

ground, course ground, cracked. Description; Dark, wrinkled berries;

pungent taste. Sources; Indonesia, India, Brazil. Uses; Most important spice used in all

kinds of meats and vegetables, Some cakes and cookies.

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WHITE PEPPER WHITE PEPPER: Whole, ground. Description; Light colored seed of ripe

peppercorn; somewhat less pungent. Sources; Indonesia, India, Malaysia. Uses; Same as black pepper, but

particularly in light colored sauces, casseroles, soups, eggs, cheese dishes.

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RED PEPPER RED PEPPER; Whole (chilies), ground

(cayenne); crushed. Description; Elongated red pods of varying

sizes with heat levels mild to extremely pungent.

Sources; Mexico, China, U.S. Uses; Ground or Cayenne-in dips, sauces,

soups, meats, fish. Crushed-in pizza, spaghetti and various Mexican dishes. Whole-in pickles and marinades.

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POPPY SEED POPPY SEED; Whole. Description; Tiny, slate blue colored

seeds; Nut-like taste. Sources; Netherlands, Turkey,

Romania. Uses; As toppings for rolls, breads,

cookies, in cole slaw, noodles, dips and cheesecakes.

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ROSEMARY ROSEMARY; Whole (leaf). Description; Bits of needle-like green

leaves; bittersweet taste. Sources; Portugal, France, Yugoslavia. Uses; Excellent with lamb, chicken, beef

and pork, sauces for fish, salad dressings, eggplants, green beans, summer squashes, mushrooms.

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SAFFRON SAFFRON; Whole; Ground. Description; Costliest spice; orange-

yellow strands (flower stigmas) pleasantly bitter taste.

Sources; Spain. Uses; So potent, a few strands bring

rich, golden color and flavor to rice, chicken and seafood.

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SAGE SAGE; Whole (leaf); Ground; Rubbed

(crumbled, fluffy leaves). Description; Long, grayish green

leaves with strong, slightly bitter taste. Sources; Yugoslavia, Albania, Turkey. Uses; Sausage and poultry stuffing,

meat loaves, pork dishes, fish chowders, melted cheese dishes.

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SAVORY SAVORY; Whole (leaf), ground. DESCRIPTION; As packaged, bits of

greenish-brown leaves with savory aroma.

Sources; Yugoslavia, France. Uses; Green beans, meat, chicken,

dressings, scrambled eggs, omelets, soups, salads.

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SESAME SEED SESAME SEED; Whole. Description; Creamy white seed with

mild, nutty taste. Sources; Central America, Ethiopia. Uses; Topping for hamburger buns,

breads, cakes, cookies, creamy pies, in stuffings, sauces, vegetable butters, fried chicken coatings.

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SWEET PEPPER FLAKES SWEET PEPPER FLAKES; Also known as

Bell pepper flakes. Flakes. Description; Dehydrated, flaked, sweet

green or sweet red pepper or a mixture of both.

Sources; U.S. Uses; Sauces, soups, salads, stews,

sandwich fillings, chili, Spanish rice, Creole dishes.

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TARRAGON TARRAGON; Whole (leaf); Ground. Description; As packaged, bits of green

leaves with sweet licorice-like taste. Sources; U.S., France, Yugoslavia. Uses; Known as the “vinegar herb”. Salad

dressings, casseroles of meat, seafood, poultry esp chicken; Also in tartar sauce.

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THYME THYME; Whole (leaf), Ground. Description; As packaged, bits of

grayish-green leaves; aromatic, pungent taste.

Sources; Spain, France. Uses; Clam chowder, seafood,

stuffings, creamed chicken, chipped beef, onions, eggplant, celery.

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TURMERIC TURMERIC; Ground. Description; Orange-yellow roots,

peppery, slightly bitter taste. Sources; India, Haiti, Peru. Uses; Adds saffron-like coloring to

rice, chicken, seafood, eggs; Also good in pickles and relishes.

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CONCLUSIONS Spices are grown throughout the world

and add flavor to the foods we consume each day.

Knowledge and understanding of these spices are useful in developing new products and making foods at home.

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