🌶️ Spice Vocab
Spice vocabulary becomes easier when you notice which part of the plant is being used and what the spice contributes to a dish. Spices may come from seeds, berries, bark, flower buds, pods, roots, rhizomes, or dried leaves. Some add warmth and sweetness to baking, while others contribute earthiness, smoke, bitterness, sourness, color, or heat. A few create sensations that ordinary “spicy” vocabulary does not describe well, such as the numbing tingle of Sichuan pepper. You will also see important cooking verbs such as toast, crack, grind, grate, crush, steep, bloom, temper, and infuse.
⚫ Peppers
⚫ Black Pepper
pungent spice made from dried peppercorns, commonly used whole, cracked, or ground
Example: She finished the pasta with freshly cracked black pepper.
🇫🇷 French: Poivre noir
🇩🇪 German: Schwarzer Pfeffer
🇮🇹 Italian: Pepe nero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pimenta-preta
💡 Nuance: Freshly cracked pepper usually has a stronger aroma than pepper that has been pre-ground for a long time. To crack means to crush the peppercorns into coarse pieces rather than grind them into a fine powder.
pungent spice made from dried peppercorns, commonly used whole, cracked, or ground
Example: She finished the pasta with freshly cracked black pepper.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pimienta negra🇫🇷 French: Poivre noir
🇩🇪 German: Schwarzer Pfeffer
🇮🇹 Italian: Pepe nero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pimenta-preta
💡 Nuance: Freshly cracked pepper usually has a stronger aroma than pepper that has been pre-ground for a long time. To crack means to crush the peppercorns into coarse pieces rather than grind them into a fine powder.
⚪ White Pepper
pepper made from ripe peppercorns with the outer layer removed
Example: The chef used white pepper so the pale cream sauce would not have black specks.
🇫🇷 French: Poivre blanc
🇩🇪 German: Weißer Pfeffer
🇮🇹 Italian: Pepe bianco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pimenta-branca
💡 Nuance: Black and white pepper come from the same pepper plant but are processed differently. White pepper often has a more earthy or fermented aroma and is useful when cooks want pepper flavor without visible dark flecks.
pepper made from ripe peppercorns with the outer layer removed
Example: The chef used white pepper so the pale cream sauce would not have black specks.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pimienta blanca🇫🇷 French: Poivre blanc
🇩🇪 German: Weißer Pfeffer
🇮🇹 Italian: Pepe bianco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pimenta-branca
💡 Nuance: Black and white pepper come from the same pepper plant but are processed differently. White pepper often has a more earthy or fermented aroma and is useful when cooks want pepper flavor without visible dark flecks.
🌸 Sichuan Pepper
citrusy Chinese spice that creates a distinctive tingling and numbing sensation
Example: The Sichuan pepper made her lips tingle without tasting like ordinary black pepper.
🇫🇷 French: Poivre du Sichuan
🇩🇪 German: Szechuanpfeffer
🇮🇹 Italian: Pepe del Sichuan
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pimenta-de-Sichuan
💡 Nuance: Sichuan pepper is not a true peppercorn. Its most important characteristic is the tingling or numbing sensation, not simply chile-like heat.
citrusy Chinese spice that creates a distinctive tingling and numbing sensation
Example: The Sichuan pepper made her lips tingle without tasting like ordinary black pepper.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pimienta de Sichuan🇫🇷 French: Poivre du Sichuan
🇩🇪 German: Szechuanpfeffer
🇮🇹 Italian: Pepe del Sichuan
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pimenta-de-Sichuan
💡 Nuance: Sichuan pepper is not a true peppercorn. Its most important characteristic is the tingling or numbing sensation, not simply chile-like heat.
🍪 Warm & Sweet
🪵 Cinnamon
warm, fragrant spice made from dried inner bark
Example: She stirred ground cinnamon into the cake batter and used a cinnamon stick in the hot cider.
🇫🇷 French: Cannelle
🇩🇪 German: Zimt
🇮🇹 Italian: Cannella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Canela
💡 Nuance: Whole cinnamon sticks are useful for infusing liquids and can be removed later. Ground cinnamon blends directly into doughs, batters, and sauces.
warm, fragrant spice made from dried inner bark
Example: She stirred ground cinnamon into the cake batter and used a cinnamon stick in the hot cider.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Canela🇫🇷 French: Cannelle
🇩🇪 German: Zimt
🇮🇹 Italian: Cannella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Canela
💡 Nuance: Whole cinnamon sticks are useful for infusing liquids and can be removed later. Ground cinnamon blends directly into doughs, batters, and sauces.
🌸 Cloves
intensely aromatic dried flower buds with sweet, warm, and slightly medicinal notes
Example: She added only two whole cloves because the flavor becomes overpowering very quickly.
🇫🇷 French: Clou de girofle
🇩🇪 German: Nelke
🇮🇹 Italian: Chiodo di garofano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cravo
💡 Nuance: Cloves are very strong, so recipes often use only a few. Overpowering means so strong that one flavor dominates everything else.
intensely aromatic dried flower buds with sweet, warm, and slightly medicinal notes
Example: She added only two whole cloves because the flavor becomes overpowering very quickly.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Clavo🇫🇷 French: Clou de girofle
🇩🇪 German: Nelke
🇮🇹 Italian: Chiodo di garofano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cravo
💡 Nuance: Cloves are very strong, so recipes often use only a few. Overpowering means so strong that one flavor dominates everything else.
🌰 Nutmeg
warm, sweet, slightly nutty spice made from the seed of the nutmeg fruit
Example: He grated a little fresh nutmeg over the béchamel sauce.
🇫🇷 French: Muscade
🇩🇪 German: Muskatnuss
🇮🇹 Italian: Noce moscata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Noz-moscada
💡 Nuance: Whole nutmeg can be grated directly into a dish. Nutmeg and mace come from the same fruit, but nutmeg is the seed itself.
warm, sweet, slightly nutty spice made from the seed of the nutmeg fruit
Example: He grated a little fresh nutmeg over the béchamel sauce.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nuez moscada🇫🇷 French: Muscade
🇩🇪 German: Muskatnuss
🇮🇹 Italian: Noce moscata
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Noz-moscada
💡 Nuance: Whole nutmeg can be grated directly into a dish. Nutmeg and mace come from the same fruit, but nutmeg is the seed itself.
🧡 Mace
warm aromatic spice made from the lacy covering around the nutmeg seed
Example: The recipe used mace to add a delicate nutmeg-like warmth to the sauce.
🇫🇷 French: Macis
🇩🇪 German: Macis / Muskatblüte
🇮🇹 Italian: Macis
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Macis
💡 Nuance: Mace and nutmeg come from the same fruit but from different parts. Mace is the outer aril, or lacy covering, around the nutmeg seed.
warm aromatic spice made from the lacy covering around the nutmeg seed
Example: The recipe used mace to add a delicate nutmeg-like warmth to the sauce.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Macis🇫🇷 French: Macis
🇩🇪 German: Macis / Muskatblüte
🇮🇹 Italian: Macis
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Macis
💡 Nuance: Mace and nutmeg come from the same fruit but from different parts. Mace is the outer aril, or lacy covering, around the nutmeg seed.
🫐 Allspice
dried berry with a flavor that suggests cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg
Example: Allspice gave the jerk seasoning a warm, complex aroma.
🇫🇷 French: Piment de la Jamaïque
🇩🇪 German: Piment / Nelkenpfeffer
🇮🇹 Italian: Pimento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pimenta-da-Jamaica
💡 Nuance: Despite its name, allspice is one dried berry, not a manufactured mixture of several spices.
dried berry with a flavor that suggests cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg
Example: Allspice gave the jerk seasoning a warm, complex aroma.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pimienta de Jamaica🇫🇷 French: Piment de la Jamaïque
🇩🇪 German: Piment / Nelkenpfeffer
🇮🇹 Italian: Pimento
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pimenta-da-Jamaica
💡 Nuance: Despite its name, allspice is one dried berry, not a manufactured mixture of several spices.
💚 Cardamom
highly fragrant spice sold as pods or seeds, with sweet, floral, and citrusy notes
Example: She lightly crushed the cardamom pods before adding them to the tea.
🇫🇷 French: Cardamome
🇩🇪 German: Kardamom
🇮🇹 Italian: Cardamomo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cardamomo
💡 Nuance: Whole pods can perfume coffee, tea, rice, and stews and are often removed before eating. Green cardamom is generally sweeter and more floral, while black cardamom has a smokier savory character.
highly fragrant spice sold as pods or seeds, with sweet, floral, and citrusy notes
Example: She lightly crushed the cardamom pods before adding them to the tea.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Cardamomo🇫🇷 French: Cardamome
🇩🇪 German: Kardamom
🇮🇹 Italian: Cardamomo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cardamomo
💡 Nuance: Whole pods can perfume coffee, tea, rice, and stews and are often removed before eating. Green cardamom is generally sweeter and more floral, while black cardamom has a smokier savory character.
🌍 Earthy & Savory
🟤 Cumin
warm, earthy, aromatic seed used across many savory cuisines
Example: Toasting the cumin seeds before grinding them made their aroma stronger.
🇫🇷 French: Cumin
🇩🇪 German: Kreuzkümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Cumino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cominho
💡 Nuance: Cumin and caraway look somewhat similar, but cumin has a warmer, earthier flavor. Caraway has a stronger anise-like note.
warm, earthy, aromatic seed used across many savory cuisines
Example: Toasting the cumin seeds before grinding them made their aroma stronger.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Comino🇫🇷 French: Cumin
🇩🇪 German: Kreuzkümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Cumino
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cominho
💡 Nuance: Cumin and caraway look somewhat similar, but cumin has a warmer, earthier flavor. Caraway has a stronger anise-like note.
🟡 Coriander Seed
dried seed of the coriander plant, with warm citrusy and mildly sweet notes
Example: The cook toasted coriander seeds before adding them to the spice blend.
🇫🇷 French: Graine de coriandre
🇩🇪 German: Koriandersamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di coriandolo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Semente de coentro
💡 Nuance: Coriander seed and cilantro leaf come from the same plant, but they taste very different. The seed is treated as a spice; the fresh leaf is treated as an herb.
dried seed of the coriander plant, with warm citrusy and mildly sweet notes
Example: The cook toasted coriander seeds before adding them to the spice blend.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semilla de cilantro / coriandro🇫🇷 French: Graine de coriandre
🇩🇪 German: Koriandersamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di coriandolo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Semente de coentro
💡 Nuance: Coriander seed and cilantro leaf come from the same plant, but they taste very different. The seed is treated as a spice; the fresh leaf is treated as an herb.
🟡 Turmeric
yellow-orange rhizome used fresh or ground, with earthy and slightly bitter flavor
Example: The turmeric gave the rice a bright golden-yellow color.
🇫🇷 French: Curcuma
🇩🇪 German: Kurkuma
🇮🇹 Italian: Curcuma
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Açafrão-da-terra / cúrcuma
💡 Nuance: Turmeric is especially powerful as a coloring spice and can stain utensils and clothing. It should not be confused with saffron, which also colors food yellow but has a very different floral aroma.
yellow-orange rhizome used fresh or ground, with earthy and slightly bitter flavor
Example: The turmeric gave the rice a bright golden-yellow color.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Cúrcuma🇫🇷 French: Curcuma
🇩🇪 German: Kurkuma
🇮🇹 Italian: Curcuma
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Açafrão-da-terra / cúrcuma
💡 Nuance: Turmeric is especially powerful as a coloring spice and can stain utensils and clothing. It should not be confused with saffron, which also colors food yellow but has a very different floral aroma.
🔴 Paprika
powder made from dried peppers, available in sweet, hot, and smoked styles
Example: The smoked paprika gave the stew a deep smoky aroma without making it extremely hot.
🇫🇷 French: Paprika
🇩🇪 German: Paprika
🇮🇹 Italian: Paprika
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Páprica / colorau
💡 Nuance: Always check the label. Sweet paprika, hot paprika, and smoked paprika can behave very differently in a recipe.
powder made from dried peppers, available in sweet, hot, and smoked styles
Example: The smoked paprika gave the stew a deep smoky aroma without making it extremely hot.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pimentón🇫🇷 French: Paprika
🇩🇪 German: Paprika
🇮🇹 Italian: Paprika
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Páprica / colorau
💡 Nuance: Always check the label. Sweet paprika, hot paprika, and smoked paprika can behave very differently in a recipe.
🫚 Ginger
aromatic rhizome used fresh, dried, or ground, with warm spicy flavor
Example: She grated fresh ginger into the stir-fry but used ground ginger in the cookies.
🇫🇷 French: Gingembre
🇩🇪 German: Ingwer
🇮🇹 Italian: Zenzero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gengibre
💡 Nuance: Fresh and ground ginger are related but are not always interchangeable. Fresh ginger tastes brighter and juicier, while dried ground ginger is warmer, more concentrated, and common in baking.
aromatic rhizome used fresh, dried, or ground, with warm spicy flavor
Example: She grated fresh ginger into the stir-fry but used ground ginger in the cookies.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Jengibre🇫🇷 French: Gingembre
🇩🇪 German: Ingwer
🇮🇹 Italian: Zenzero
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gengibre
💡 Nuance: Fresh and ground ginger are related but are not always interchangeable. Fresh ginger tastes brighter and juicier, while dried ground ginger is warmer, more concentrated, and common in baking.
🍁 Fenugreek
aromatic seed with a slightly bitter flavor and a distinctive maple-like aroma
Example: The recipe used only a small amount of fenugreek because too much would make the curry bitter.
🇫🇷 French: Fenugrec
🇩🇪 German: Bockshornklee
🇮🇹 Italian: Fieno greco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Feno-grego
💡 Nuance: Fenugreek seeds and fenugreek leaves are two different culinary forms of the same plant. The leaves are often called methi.
aromatic seed with a slightly bitter flavor and a distinctive maple-like aroma
Example: The recipe used only a small amount of fenugreek because too much would make the curry bitter.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Fenogreco / alholva🇫🇷 French: Fenugrec
🇩🇪 German: Bockshornklee
🇮🇹 Italian: Fieno greco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Feno-grego
💡 Nuance: Fenugreek seeds and fenugreek leaves are two different culinary forms of the same plant. The leaves are often called methi.
🟡 Mustard Seed
small pungent seeds used whole, crushed, or ground
Example: The mustard seeds began to pop when they hit the hot oil.
🇫🇷 French: Graine de moutarde
🇩🇪 German: Senfsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di senape
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Semente de mostarda
💡 Nuance: Mustard seeds are often tempered or bloomed in hot oil to release their aroma. Prepared mustard in a bottle or jar is a condiment made from processed mustard seeds.
small pungent seeds used whole, crushed, or ground
Example: The mustard seeds began to pop when they hit the hot oil.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semilla de mostaza🇫🇷 French: Graine de moutarde
🇩🇪 German: Senfsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di senape
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Semente de mostarda
💡 Nuance: Mustard seeds are often tempered or bloomed in hot oil to release their aroma. Prepared mustard in a bottle or jar is a condiment made from processed mustard seeds.
💨 Asafoetida
very pungent spice with a harsh raw aroma that becomes savory and onion-like when cooked
Example: She bloomed a small pinch of asafoetida in hot ghee before adding the lentils.
🇫🇷 French: Asafoetida
🇩🇪 German: Asafetida / Stinkasant
🇮🇹 Italian: Assafetida
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assafétida
💡 Nuance: Asafoetida is also called hing. It is normally used in very small quantities. To bloom a spice means to briefly heat it in fat so its aroma and flavor are released.
very pungent spice with a harsh raw aroma that becomes savory and onion-like when cooked
Example: She bloomed a small pinch of asafoetida in hot ghee before adding the lentils.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Asafétida🇫🇷 French: Asafoetida
🇩🇪 German: Asafetida / Stinkasant
🇮🇹 Italian: Assafetida
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assafétida
💡 Nuance: Asafoetida is also called hing. It is normally used in very small quantities. To bloom a spice means to briefly heat it in fat so its aroma and flavor are released.
🌱 Seeds & Licorice Notes
🌿 Fennel Seed
sweet aromatic seed with a mild licorice-like flavor
Example: The fennel seeds gave the Italian sausage a sweet anise-like aroma.
🇫🇷 French: Graine de fenouil
🇩🇪 German: Fenchelsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di finocchio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Semente de funcho
💡 Nuance: Fennel, anise, and star anise share licorice-like flavor notes but come from different plants. Fennel seed is generally gentler and less sharply sweet than anise seed.
sweet aromatic seed with a mild licorice-like flavor
Example: The fennel seeds gave the Italian sausage a sweet anise-like aroma.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semilla de hinojo🇫🇷 French: Graine de fenouil
🇩🇪 German: Fenchelsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di finocchio
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Semente de funcho
💡 Nuance: Fennel, anise, and star anise share licorice-like flavor notes but come from different plants. Fennel seed is generally gentler and less sharply sweet than anise seed.
🍞 Caraway Seed
aromatic seed with earthy, warm, and distinctly anise-like flavor
Example: The caraway seeds gave the rye bread its familiar aroma.
🇫🇷 French: Carvi
🇩🇪 German: Kümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Carvi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Alcaravia
💡 Nuance: Caraway and cumin look related but taste different. Caraway is strongly associated with rye bread and has a more noticeable anise-like character.
aromatic seed with earthy, warm, and distinctly anise-like flavor
Example: The caraway seeds gave the rye bread its familiar aroma.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Alcaravea🇫🇷 French: Carvi
🇩🇪 German: Kümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Carvi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Alcaravia
💡 Nuance: Caraway and cumin look related but taste different. Caraway is strongly associated with rye bread and has a more noticeable anise-like character.
🌿 Dill Seed
aromatic seed from the dill plant, warmer and more concentrated than the fresh leaves
Example: She added dill seed to the pickle brine and fresh dill to the finished salad.
🇫🇷 French: Graine d’aneth
🇩🇪 German: Dillsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di aneto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Semente de endro
💡 Nuance: The seed and leaf come from the same plant but serve different culinary roles. Dill seed is treated as a spice; fresh dill is treated as an herb.
aromatic seed from the dill plant, warmer and more concentrated than the fresh leaves
Example: She added dill seed to the pickle brine and fresh dill to the finished salad.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Semilla de eneldo🇫🇷 French: Graine d’aneth
🇩🇪 German: Dillsamen
🇮🇹 Italian: Semi di aneto
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Semente de endro
💡 Nuance: The seed and leaf come from the same plant but serve different culinary roles. Dill seed is treated as a spice; fresh dill is treated as an herb.
⭐ Star Anise
star-shaped spice with a strong sweet licorice-like aroma
Example: She added one whole star anise to the broth and removed it before serving.
🇫🇷 French: Anis étoilé / badiane
🇩🇪 German: Sternanis
🇮🇹 Italian: Anice stellato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Anis-estrelado
💡 Nuance: Its star shape makes it easy to identify. Star anise and anise seed have similar aromatic compounds, but they come from different plants.
star-shaped spice with a strong sweet licorice-like aroma
Example: She added one whole star anise to the broth and removed it before serving.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Anís estrellado🇫🇷 French: Anis étoilé / badiane
🇩🇪 German: Sternanis
🇮🇹 Italian: Anice stellato
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Anis-estrelado
💡 Nuance: Its star shape makes it easy to identify. Star anise and anise seed have similar aromatic compounds, but they come from different plants.
⚪ Anise Seed
small aromatic seed with a sweet licorice-like flavor
Example: The cookies had a clear licorice aroma from the anise seed.
🇫🇷 French: Anis
🇩🇪 German: Anis
🇮🇹 Italian: Anice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Anis
💡 Nuance: Anise seed is small and seed-like, while star anise is a large star-shaped pod. Both are strongly licorice-like but are botanically different.
small aromatic seed with a sweet licorice-like flavor
Example: The cookies had a clear licorice aroma from the anise seed.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Anís🇫🇷 French: Anis
🇩🇪 German: Anis
🇮🇹 Italian: Anice
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Anis
💡 Nuance: Anise seed is small and seed-like, while star anise is a large star-shaped pod. Both are strongly licorice-like but are botanically different.
🖤 Nigella Seeds
small black seeds with peppery, nutty, and slightly onion-like flavor
Example: The baker sprinkled nigella seeds over the naan before baking.
🇫🇷 French: Nigelle
🇩🇪 German: Schwarzkümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Nigella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nigela
💡 Nuance: Nigella is also called kalonji. It may be informally labeled “onion seed,” but it is not actually an onion seed and should not be confused with black sesame.
small black seeds with peppery, nutty, and slightly onion-like flavor
Example: The baker sprinkled nigella seeds over the naan before baking.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Nigela / ajenuz🇫🇷 French: Nigelle
🇩🇪 German: Schwarzkümmel
🇮🇹 Italian: Nigella
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nigela
💡 Nuance: Nigella is also called kalonji. It may be informally labeled “onion seed,” but it is not actually an onion seed and should not be confused with black sesame.
🔥 Ajwain
small aromatic seed with a powerful thyme-like flavor
Example: A small amount of ajwain gave the paratha dough a strong herbal aroma.
🇫🇷 French: Ajwain
🇩🇪 German: Ajwain
🇮🇹 Italian: Ajwain
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ajwain
💡 Nuance: Ajwain is also called carom seed. Its aroma is much closer to thyme or oregano than to cumin, even though the seeds can look superficially similar.
small aromatic seed with a powerful thyme-like flavor
Example: A small amount of ajwain gave the paratha dough a strong herbal aroma.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ajwain / alcaravea india🇫🇷 French: Ajwain
🇩🇪 German: Ajwain
🇮🇹 Italian: Ajwain
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ajwain
💡 Nuance: Ajwain is also called carom seed. Its aroma is much closer to thyme or oregano than to cumin, even though the seeds can look superficially similar.
🍃 Leaves, Tart & Rare
🍃 Curry Leaf
highly aromatic South Asian leaf commonly fried in hot oil to flavor savory dishes
Example: The cook fried curry leaves with mustard seeds before adding the vegetables.
🇫🇷 French: Feuille de curry
🇩🇪 German: Curryblatt
🇮🇹 Italian: Foglia di curry
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Folha de caril
💡 Nuance: Curry leaf is a specific aromatic leaf. Curry powder is a ground spice blend. They are completely different ingredients and are not direct substitutes.
highly aromatic South Asian leaf commonly fried in hot oil to flavor savory dishes
Example: The cook fried curry leaves with mustard seeds before adding the vegetables.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Hoja de curry🇫🇷 French: Feuille de curry
🇩🇪 German: Curryblatt
🇮🇹 Italian: Foglia di curry
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Folha de caril
💡 Nuance: Curry leaf is a specific aromatic leaf. Curry powder is a ground spice blend. They are completely different ingredients and are not direct substitutes.
🍂 Bay Leaf
aromatic leaf used to gently perfume soups, beans, sauces, and stews
Example: She simmered one bay leaf with the beans and removed it before serving.
🇫🇷 French: Laurier
🇩🇪 German: Lorbeerblatt
🇮🇹 Italian: Alloro
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Louro
💡 Nuance: Bay leaf usually contributes a subtle background aroma during simmering. Whole leaves are normally removed before the dish is served.
aromatic leaf used to gently perfume soups, beans, sauces, and stews
Example: She simmered one bay leaf with the beans and removed it before serving.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Laurel🇫🇷 French: Laurier
🇩🇪 German: Lorbeerblatt
🇮🇹 Italian: Alloro
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Louro
💡 Nuance: Bay leaf usually contributes a subtle background aroma during simmering. Whole leaves are normally removed before the dish is served.
🍋 Sumac
tart reddish spice made from dried sumac berries
Example: She sprinkled sumac over the salad to add a bright lemony flavor.
🇫🇷 French: Sumac
🇩🇪 German: Sumach
🇮🇹 Italian: Sommacco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sumagre
💡 Nuance: Sumac is tart or sour, not hot. It is a dry seasoning, unlike tamarind, which is usually used as pulp, paste, concentrate, or liquid.
tart reddish spice made from dried sumac berries
Example: She sprinkled sumac over the salad to add a bright lemony flavor.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Zumaque🇫🇷 French: Sumac
🇩🇪 German: Sumach
🇮🇹 Italian: Sommacco
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Sumagre
💡 Nuance: Sumac is tart or sour, not hot. It is a dry seasoning, unlike tamarind, which is usually used as pulp, paste, concentrate, or liquid.
🌲 Juniper Berry
small aromatic cone commonly treated as a spice, with piney, resinous, and citrusy notes
Example: The cook crushed the juniper berries before adding them to the braised meat.
🇫🇷 French: Genièvre
🇩🇪 German: Wacholderbeere
🇮🇹 Italian: Ginepro
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Zimbro
💡 Nuance: Juniper has a distinctive piney or resin-like aroma. It is strongly associated with gin as well as some European meat and game dishes.
small aromatic cone commonly treated as a spice, with piney, resinous, and citrusy notes
Example: The cook crushed the juniper berries before adding them to the braised meat.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Enebro🇫🇷 French: Genièvre
🇩🇪 German: Wacholderbeere
🇮🇹 Italian: Ginepro
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Zimbro
💡 Nuance: Juniper has a distinctive piney or resin-like aroma. It is strongly associated with gin as well as some European meat and game dishes.
🌼 Saffron
delicate spice made from dried crocus stigmas, prized for floral aroma and golden color
Example: She steeped the saffron threads in warm water before adding them to the rice.
🇫🇷 French: Safran
🇩🇪 German: Safran
🇮🇹 Italian: Zafferano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Açafrão
💡 Nuance: Saffron contributes both color and aroma. Turmeric can also color food yellow but cannot reproduce saffron’s floral flavor. To steep means to soak an ingredient in warm liquid so its flavor and color infuse the liquid.
delicate spice made from dried crocus stigmas, prized for floral aroma and golden color
Example: She steeped the saffron threads in warm water before adding them to the rice.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Azafrán🇫🇷 French: Safran
🇩🇪 German: Safran
🇮🇹 Italian: Zafferano
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Açafrão
💡 Nuance: Saffron contributes both color and aroma. Turmeric can also color food yellow but cannot reproduce saffron’s floral flavor. To steep means to soak an ingredient in warm liquid so its flavor and color infuse the liquid.
🟤 Tamarind
sour-sweet pulp from tamarind pods, used to add deep acidity to sauces and dishes
Example: Tamarind paste gave the sauce a deep sweet-sour flavor.
🇫🇷 French: Tamarin
🇩🇪 German: Tamarinde
🇮🇹 Italian: Tamarindo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tamarindo
💡 Nuance: Tamarind is technically a fruit, but it is often used as a souring agent in savory cooking. Sumac also adds sourness, but it is a dry powder rather than a sticky pulp or paste.
sour-sweet pulp from tamarind pods, used to add deep acidity to sauces and dishes
Example: Tamarind paste gave the sauce a deep sweet-sour flavor.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tamarindo🇫🇷 French: Tamarin
🇩🇪 German: Tamarinde
🇮🇹 Italian: Tamarindo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tamarindo
💡 Nuance: Tamarind is technically a fruit, but it is often used as a souring agent in savory cooking. Sumac also adds sourness, but it is a dry powder rather than a sticky pulp or paste.
🧠 Useful Distinctions
⚫ Black Pepper vs. ⚪ White Pepper vs. 🌸 Sichuan Pepper
Black pepper and white pepper come from the same pepper plant but are processed differently. Sichuan pepper comes from a different plant and is known for a citrusy aroma and numbing tingle rather than ordinary pepper heat.
Black pepper and white pepper come from the same pepper plant but are processed differently. Sichuan pepper comes from a different plant and is known for a citrusy aroma and numbing tingle rather than ordinary pepper heat.
🌰 Nutmeg vs. 🧡 Mace
Both come from the same fruit. Nutmeg is the seed, while mace is the lacy covering around that seed. Their flavors are related but not identical.
Both come from the same fruit. Nutmeg is the seed, while mace is the lacy covering around that seed. Their flavors are related but not identical.
🫐 Allspice vs. a Spice Blend
Allspice is a single dried berry whose flavor reminds people of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. It is not a pre-mixed combination of those spices.
Allspice is a single dried berry whose flavor reminds people of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. It is not a pre-mixed combination of those spices.
🟡 Coriander Seed vs. Cilantro
These come from the same plant. Coriander seed is a warm, citrusy spice, while cilantro is the fresh leafy herb.
These come from the same plant. Coriander seed is a warm, citrusy spice, while cilantro is the fresh leafy herb.
🟡 Turmeric vs. 🌼 Saffron
Both can give food a yellow or golden color. Turmeric is an earthy rhizome commonly sold as powder. Saffron consists of delicate crocus threads and contributes a distinctive floral aroma as well as color.
Both can give food a yellow or golden color. Turmeric is an earthy rhizome commonly sold as powder. Saffron consists of delicate crocus threads and contributes a distinctive floral aroma as well as color.
🌿 Fennel vs. ⚪ Anise vs. ⭐ Star Anise vs. 🍞 Caraway
All have some licorice-like character. Fennel seed is relatively gentle and common in sausage. Anise seed is sweeter and sharper. Star anise is a star-shaped spice with strong licorice aroma. Caraway is earthier and strongly associated with rye bread.
All have some licorice-like character. Fennel seed is relatively gentle and common in sausage. Anise seed is sweeter and sharper. Star anise is a star-shaped spice with strong licorice aroma. Caraway is earthier and strongly associated with rye bread.
🍃 Curry Leaf vs. Curry Powder
Curry leaf is an aromatic leaf commonly fried in oil. Curry powder is a ground blend of several spices. The similar names do not make them interchangeable.
Curry leaf is an aromatic leaf commonly fried in oil. Curry powder is a ground blend of several spices. The similar names do not make them interchangeable.
🍋 Sumac vs. 🟤 Tamarind
Both add acidity. Sumac is a dry, reddish, lemony spice. Tamarind is a darker, sweet-sour fruit pulp commonly sold as paste, concentrate, or blocks.
Both add acidity. Sumac is a dry, reddish, lemony spice. Tamarind is a darker, sweet-sour fruit pulp commonly sold as paste, concentrate, or blocks.
💬 Everyday Spice Phrases
🌸 Sichuan pepper gives you a tingle; black pepper gives you peppery heat.
tingling sensation vs. ordinary pepper pungency
🇫🇷 Le poivre du Sichuan donne un picotement ; le poivre noir donne une chaleur poivrée plus classique.
🇩🇪 Sichuanpfeffer verursacht ein Kribbeln; schwarzer Pfeffer gibt die typische Pfefferschärfe.
🇮🇹 Il pepe del Sichuan dà un formicolio; il pepe nero dà il classico calore pepato.
🇵🇹 A pimenta-de-Sichuan causa formigamento; a pimenta-preta dá a ardência típica da pimenta.
tingling sensation vs. ordinary pepper pungency
Show translations
🇪🇸 La pimienta de Sichuan produce hormigueo; la pimienta negra aporta un picor más tradicional.🇫🇷 Le poivre du Sichuan donne un picotement ; le poivre noir donne une chaleur poivrée plus classique.
🇩🇪 Sichuanpfeffer verursacht ein Kribbeln; schwarzer Pfeffer gibt die typische Pfefferschärfe.
🇮🇹 Il pepe del Sichuan dà un formicolio; il pepe nero dà il classico calore pepato.
🇵🇹 A pimenta-de-Sichuan causa formigamento; a pimenta-preta dá a ardência típica da pimenta.
🌼 Turmeric mainly adds earthy flavor and strong color; saffron adds color plus a distinctive floral aroma.
two yellow spices with very different flavor profiles
🇫🇷 Le curcuma apporte surtout une saveur terreuse et une couleur intense ; le safran apporte de la couleur ainsi qu’un arôme floral distinctif.
🇩🇪 Kurkuma bringt vor allem erdigen Geschmack und kräftige Farbe; Safran bringt Farbe und zusätzlich ein charakteristisches blumiges Aroma.
🇮🇹 La curcuma aggiunge soprattutto sapore terroso e colore intenso; lo zafferano aggiunge colore e un aroma floreale caratteristico.
🇵🇹 A cúrcuma acrescenta principalmente sabor terroso e cor intensa; o açafrão acrescenta cor e também um aroma floral característico.
two yellow spices with very different flavor profiles
Show translations
🇪🇸 La cúrcuma aporta principalmente sabor terroso y mucho color; el azafrán aporta color además de un aroma floral característico.🇫🇷 Le curcuma apporte surtout une saveur terreuse et une couleur intense ; le safran apporte de la couleur ainsi qu’un arôme floral distinctif.
🇩🇪 Kurkuma bringt vor allem erdigen Geschmack und kräftige Farbe; Safran bringt Farbe und zusätzlich ein charakteristisches blumiges Aroma.
🇮🇹 La curcuma aggiunge soprattutto sapore terroso e colore intenso; lo zafferano aggiunge colore e un aroma floreale caratteristico.
🇵🇹 A cúrcuma acrescenta principalmente sabor terroso e cor intensa; o açafrão acrescenta cor e também um aroma floral característico.
🍃 The recipe calls for curry leaves, not curry powder; they are completely different ingredients.
aromatic leaf vs. ground spice blend
🇫🇷 La recette demande des feuilles de curry, pas du curry en poudre ; ce sont des ingrédients complètement différents.
🇩🇪 Das Rezept verlangt Curryblätter, nicht Currypulver; das sind völlig unterschiedliche Zutaten.
🇮🇹 La ricetta richiede foglie di curry, non curry in polvere; sono ingredienti completamente diversi.
🇵🇹 A receita pede folhas de caril, não caril em pó; são ingredientes completamente diferentes.
aromatic leaf vs. ground spice blend
Show translations
🇪🇸 La receta pide hojas de curry, no curry en polvo; son ingredientes completamente diferentes.🇫🇷 La recette demande des feuilles de curry, pas du curry en poudre ; ce sont des ingrédients complètement différents.
🇩🇪 Das Rezept verlangt Curryblätter, nicht Currypulver; das sind völlig unterschiedliche Zutaten.
🇮🇹 La ricetta richiede foglie di curry, non curry in polvere; sono ingredienti completamente diversi.
🇵🇹 A receita pede folhas de caril, não caril em pó; são ingredientes completamente diferentes.
💨 Use only a pinch of asafoetida; its raw smell becomes much more savory after it cooks in hot fat.
using hing correctly
🇫🇷 Utilisez seulement une pincée d’asafoetida ; son odeur crue devient beaucoup plus savoureuse après cuisson dans une matière grasse chaude.
🇩🇪 Verwende nur eine Prise Asafoetida; der rohe Geruch wird nach dem Erhitzen in heißem Fett deutlich würziger.
🇮🇹 Usa solo un pizzico di assafetida; il suo odore da cruda diventa molto più saporito dopo la cottura nel grasso caldo.
🇵🇹 Use apenas uma pitada de assafétida; o cheiro cru fica muito mais saboroso depois de cozinhar em gordura quente.
using hing correctly
Show translations
🇪🇸 Usa solo una pizca de asafétida; su olor crudo se vuelve mucho más sabroso después de cocinarse en grasa caliente.🇫🇷 Utilisez seulement une pincée d’asafoetida ; son odeur crue devient beaucoup plus savoureuse après cuisson dans une matière grasse chaude.
🇩🇪 Verwende nur eine Prise Asafoetida; der rohe Geruch wird nach dem Erhitzen in heißem Fett deutlich würziger.
🇮🇹 Usa solo un pizzico di assafetida; il suo odore da cruda diventa molto più saporito dopo la cottura nel grasso caldo.
🇵🇹 Use apenas uma pitada de assafétida; o cheiro cru fica muito mais saboroso depois de cozinhar em gordura quente.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Imagine you are following a recipe, comparing spice jars, or tasting a dish. Choose the spice word that best fits each situation.
Imagine you are following a recipe, comparing spice jars, or tasting a dish. Choose the spice word that best fits each situation.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%