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This is a listing of many but not all of the popular herbs and spices used in culinary preparations. Use this as a guide to seasoning and a quick reference for plant information. I hope it will make you a better cook. For the chef who is also a gardener, much joy and the reward of having "fresh" ingredients to cook with can be attained by having a garden growing with some of your favorites. An herb garden can very easily be grown in several flower pots on a window sill as easily as it can in the expanse of a country garden.
Note * In the type column (a ) means annual, (b ) means bi-annual and (p ) means perennial.
In the availability column (f ) means fresh, (d ) means dried
All meats means beef, chicken, pork, veal, duck, goose, etc.
| Name | Bot. Name | Type | How to Use | Available |
| Allspice | pimenta | tree | cakes, cookies, stews of beef, pork and game | d |
| Angelica | angelica archangelica | a | confectioneries | candied |
| Anise | pimpinella anisum | a | soups, sauces, cookies(licorice flavor) use mostly the seeds | d |
| Annatto | bixa orellana | tree | sauces, coloring foods, especially cheese | dried seeds |
| Balm, Lemon | melissa officinalis | p | tea, drinks, salads, fish, chicken | f, d |
| Basil | ocimum baslicum | a | breads, pasta, salads, all meats, vegetables, eggs | f, d, frozen |
| Basil, Lemon | ocimum citriodora | a | breads, pasta, salads, all meats, vegetables, eggs | f, d, frozen |
| Basil, Ruffled | ocimum crispum | a | breads, pasta, salads, all meats, vegetables, eggs | f, d, frozen |
| Bay Leaf | laurus nobilis | p | soups, stews, sauces, rice dishes (evergreen tree) | f, d frozen |
| Borage | borage officinalis | a | salads, soups, drinks (cucumber like flavor) blossoms as garnish | f |
| Burnet | sanguisorba minor | p | cool flavor similar to a cucumber, salads and drinks | f |
| Chamomile | anthemis nobilis | p | tea, sauces | f, d |
| Camphor Tree | cinnamomum camphora | tree | tea, bark used for smoking foods, (camphor smoked duck) in Chinese cuisine | d |
| Capers | unopened buds of the caper bush | bush | sauces, cold roast meat, condiment, smoked seafood | f, d, pickled |
| Caraway | carum carvi | b | salads, soups, sauces, stews, roasts, breads, kummel and aquavit liqueur (used seeds and fresh green leaves) usually not with fish | f, d |
| Cardamom | elettaria cardamomum | p | other spice blends, cookies, coffee, candies, (use seeds) | d |
| Catnip | nepeta cataria | p | tea | f, d |
| Cayenne | capsicum minimum | a | all dishes, a dried powder of ground hot peppers | d |
| Celery | apium graveolens dulce | a | vegetable, salads, soups, sauces, roasts, stews, all meats and fish | f, canned |
| Celery Seed | apium graveolens | a | seeds taste like fresh celery, does not come from regular celery but from cultivated "wild celery" soups, sauces, dressings | D
|
| Chervil | anthriscus cerefolium | a | slight licorice flavor; salads, soups, fish dishes | f, d |
| Chili Powder | spice blend | a blend of dried ancho chile, oregano, cumin, and cloves or allspice; soups, salads, all meats, fish, vegetables, eggs, cheese, sauces | d | |
| Chives | allium schoenoprasum | bulb | soups, salads, meats, fish, condiments, eggs, cheese, blossoms as a garnish | f, d, freeze-dried |
| Chives, Garlic | allium tuberosom | bulb | soups, salads, meats, fish, condiments, eggs, cheese, blossoms as a garnish, (stronger in flavor than regular chives) | f, d |
| Cicely. Sweet | myrrhis odorata | p | licorice taste, salads, liqueurs (use seeds and leaves), desserts | f, d |
| Cilantro, Chinese Parsley, Fresh Coriander | coriandrum sativum | a | soups, chutney, fish, chicken, used in curry, Middle Eastern, Spanish, Southwestern, and Oriental cooking | f, d |
| Cinnamon | cinnamomum cassia | tree | baking, stews, other spice blends, court bouillon, pickling, chutney, relishes (powdered or sticks), drinks (spiced cider) | d |
| Clary | salvia sclarea | b | type of sage, salads, fritters, beer, eggs, stuffing | f, d |
| Clove | eugenia caryophyllata | tree | baking, desserts, sauces, soups, stews, meats, court bouillon, pickles, spice blends, (unopened bud of the evergreen clove tree) | d |
| Coriander | coriandrum sativum | a | salads, sauces, fish dishes, chicken dishes, oriental, South western, Spanish and middle eastern cuisine | f, d |
| Costmary | chrysanthemum balsamita | p | teas; camphor, mint-like fragrance, poultry, baking | f, d |
| Crocus, Saffron | crocus sativus | p | soups, sauces, fish and chicken dishes | d |
| Cumin | cuminum cyminum | a | other spice blends, (dried seeds) | d |
| Curry Powder | spice blend | a blend of cloves, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, cardamom, fenugreek, coriander, mace, white pepper | d | |
| Dandelion | taraxacum officinale | p | salads, wine, cooked as a vegetable | f |
| Dill | anethum graveolens | a | salads, sauces, soups, pickles, dips, use with fish and vegetables | f, d |
| Dill Seed | anethum graveolens | a | use like dill leaves, the blossoms may be used as a garnish | f, d |
| Fennel Flower | nigella sativa | a | desserts, fritters, garnish | f |
| Fennel Seeds | foeniculum vulgare | a | sauces, sausage, pork roasts | d |
| Fennel, Common | foeniculum vulgare | a | soups, salads, sauces, (seeds are used most often, see above) | f |
| Fennel, Italian | foeniculum vulgare piperitum | a | salads | f |
| Fennel, Sweet | foeniculum vulgare dulce | a | seeds used in sauces, soups, pasta (cooked vegetable) | d |
| Fenugreek | trigonella foenumgraecum | a | member of the pea family, burnt sugar taste, used in spice blends, curry powder, pickling spice, chutney | d |
| Fil | sassafras | tree | powdered leaves used to thicken gumbo's | d |
| Garlic | allium sativum | bulb | used in everything except desserts | f, d, frozen, pickled |
| Geraniums Rose | pelargonium graveolens | p | desserts, jellies, oils (leaves have a rose-like aroma) leaves as a garnish | f |
| Ginger | zingiber officinale | root | baking, desserts, soups, salads, vegetables, meats, poultry, fish; just about everything | f, d, preserved, powdered |
| Ginger, Wild | asarum canadense | root | grows throughout the Northeast, not as flavorful as cultivated ginger, leaves are different as well | f |
| Horehound | marrubium vulgare | p | tea, candy, in beer makes horehound ale | f, d |
| Horseradish | armoracia apathifolia | root | sauces, salads, sandwiches, condiment | f, d |
| Hyssop | hyssopus officinalis | p | liqueurs, ice cream; tarragon/rosemary/mint-like flavor, fish, duck | f |
| Juniper Berries | juniperus communis | tree | flavoring of gin, sauces, stews, fish; particularly gravlax | f, d |
| Lavender | lavandula officinalis | p | soups, baking, vegetables, oils | f, d |
| Leek | allium porrum | p | soups, sauces, vegetables, roasts, fish, chicken, veal, beef | f |
| Lemon Verbena | lippia citriodora | p | tea, fruit salads, jelly | f, d |
| Lovage | levisticum officinale | p | used as a confectionery like angelica (root may be powdered) | f, d |
| Mace | myristica fragrans | tree | the outer web of the nutmeg berry, soups, sauces, stews, spice blends, desserts, vegetables | d |
| Marigold, Pot | calendula officinalis | a | leaves can be eaten in salads and flowers as a garnish, also edible. Adds a yellow color to cooked foods | f, d |
| Marjoram, Pot | majorana onites | p | fresh leaves in salads soups, sauces, dried in chicken and beef dishes, sometimes fish, eggs | f, d |
| Marjoram, Sweet | majorana hortensis | p | has a slightly sweeter aroma than the pot variety | f, d |
| Mint, Apple | mentha gentilis | p | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, | f, d |
| Mint, Corsican | mentha requieni | p | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, (a creeping mint, almost moss-like) | f, d |
| Mint, Orange or Lemon | mentha citrata | p | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, (a.k.a. Bergamot mint) | f, d |
| Mint, Peppermint | mentha piperita | p | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, | f, d |
| Mint, Pineapple | mentha variegata | p | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, | f, d |
| Mint, Spearmint | mentha spicata | p | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, | f, d |
| MSG | from glutamic acid | flavor enhancer | powder | |
| Mustard, Black | brassica nigra | a | sauces, eggs, roasts, vegetables, pickles, (use seeds) | f, d |
| Mustard, White | brassica alba | a | leaves in soup, (use seeds) | f, d |
| Nasturtium | tropaeolum majus | a | watercress -like flavor, salads and leaves and blossoms as a garnish | f |
| Nutmeg | myristica fragrans | tree | desserts, spice blends, sauces, pasta, vegetables, potatoes, relishes, (use grated) | d |
| Onion | allium cepa | bulb | use in everything except desserts | f, d, frozen |
| Orange Blossoms | citrus sinensis | tree | flavors water then used in desserts and sauces, petals in salads, eggs and garnish | f |
| Oregano | origanum vulgare | a | soups, sauces, stews, roasts, meat, fish, pasta, breads, eggs (blossoms as a garnish) | f, d |
| Paprika, Hot | capsicum frutescens | a | soups, sauces, stews, meats, fish, vegetables | d |
| Paprika, Sweet | capsicum annuum | a | soups, sauces, stews, meats, fish, vegetables | d |
| Parsley, Curly | petroselinum crispum | b | salads, soups, stews all meats and fish | f, d |
| Parsley, Italian | petroselinum crispum neapolitanum | b | salads, soups, stews all meats and fish | f |
| Pennyroyal | mentha pulegium | p | teas, (peppermint-like scent) use caution as it may be poisonous to some people | f |
| Pepper Flakes | capsicum frutescens | a | soups, sauces, stews, meats, fish, vegetables, pasta, pizza | d |
| Pepper, Black | piper nigrum | bush | all foods except dessert, maybe black pepper ice cream | d |
| Pepper, White | piper nigrum | bush | all foods except dessert, maybe black pepper ice cream, (white pepper comes from the same berry with the outer coating of the berry removed) | d |
| Poppy Seeds | papaver somniferum | p | breads, pastry, desserts, vegetables | d |
| Pot Marigold | calendula officinalis | a | salads | f |
| Pumpkin, Seeds | cucurbitaceae | a | sauces, condiment, garnish, bread | d |
| Rocambole | allium scorodoprasum | p | soups, sauces, roasts, stews, all meats, fish, game | f |
| Rocket | eruca sativa | a | salads, fresh sauces | f |
| Rose | rosa | p | jams, jellies, desserts, tea as rose hip tea (petals as a garnish) rose water; chicken, eggs, sauces, game | f, d |
| Rose Geranium | pelargonium graeolens | a | teas, desserts | f |
| Rosemary | rosmarinus officinalis | p | roasts, stews, all meats, some fish, breads, sauces, oils | f, d |
| Rue | ruta graveolens | p | musty taste, use with caution as some people may be sensitive and develop a rash or blisters (used in tea sandwiches), soups, chicken, eggs, vegetables | f |
| Sage | salvia officinalis | p | most dishes, bread (fried as a garnish) | f, d |
| Savory, Summer | satureia hortensis | a | soups, meats, fish, cheese, eggs, sauces | f, d |
| Savory, Winter | satreia montana | p | soups, meats, fish, cheese, eggs, sauces | f, d |
| Scallions | allium cepa | a | use like onions or chives | d |
| Sesame | sesamum indicum | a | sauces, oil, desserts, baking, meats, fish, candy | d |
| Sesame, Black | sesamum nigrum | a | sauces, oil, desserts, baking, meats, fish, candy | d |
| Shallot | allium ascalonicum | p | use like onions, has a fuller richer flavor; pickles, sauces, condiments as additional use | f, d |
| Sorrel | rumex scutatus | p | sour lemon-like flavor use in salads, sauces; particularly good with fish | f |
| Southernwood | artemisia abrotanum | p | teas | f |
| Sumac | rhus coriaria | tree | salad dressing, marinades, sauces | d |
| Tansy | tanacetum vulgare | p | flowers as a garnish, yet may be poisonous to young children | f |
| Tarragon | artemisia dracunculus | p | salads, soups, sauces, desserts, fish, chicken, veal,, butters, vinegar; even tarragon ice cream | f, d |
| Thyme, Common | thymus vulgaris | p | soups, sauces, roasts, stews, meats, fish, vegetables, game | f, d |
| Thyme, Lemon | thymus citriodorus | p | soups, sauces, roasts, stews, meats, fish, vegetables, game, even lemon thyme jelly | f, d |
| Thyme, Orange | thymus fragrantissimus | p | soups, sauces, roasts, stews, meats, fish, vegetables, game | f, d |
| Tumeric | curcuma domestica | root | spice blends, sauces, dressings, pickles, fish, poultry, eggs (looks like ginger root) | d |
| Vanilla | vanilla planifolia | bulb | an orchid; baked goods, ice cream, candy, sauces , desserts, sometimes fish like lobster in vanilla sauce | d, extract |
| Violet, Sweet | viola odorata | p | salads, candy | f |
| Watercress | nasturtium officinale | a | salad, cooked as a vegetable, sauces, cheese, eggs | f |
| Wintergreen | gaultheria procumbens | bush | wintergreen oil, candies, gum, soft drinks; (birch beer) | f, bark |
| Woodruff | asperula odorata | p | used to flavor German May-wine and other drinks | f, d |
| Wormwood | artemisia absinthium | p | most famous as an ingredient of the liqueur absinthe | f, d |