Good Cooking since 1995
Herb and Spice Guide
I hope it will make you a better cook.
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. 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.
All meats means beef, chicken, pork, veal, duck, goose, etc.
| Allspice | pimenta | tree | cakes, cookies, stews of beef, pork and game | dried seeds |
| Angelica | angelica archangelica | annual | confectioneries | candied stems |
| Anise | pimpinella anisum | annual | soups, sauces, cookies(licorice flavor) use mostly the seeds | dried seeds |
| Annatto | bixa orellana | tree | sauces, coloring foods, especially cheese | dried seeds |
| Balm, Lemon | melissa officinalis | perennial | tea, drinks, salads, fish, chicken | fresh, dried |
| Basil | ocimum baslicum | annual | breads, pasta, salads, all meats, vegetables, eggs | fresh, dried, frozen |
| Basil, Lemon | ocimum citriodora | annual | breads, pasta, salads, all meats, vegetables, eggs | fresh, dried, frozen |
| Basil, Ruffled | ocimum crispum | annual | breads, pasta, salads, all meats, vegetables, eggs | fresh, dried, frozen |
| Bay Leaf | laurus nobilis | perennial | soups, stews, sauces, rice dishes (evergreen tree) | fresh, dried, frozen |
| Borage | borage officinalis | annual | salads, soups, drinks (cucumber like flavor) blossoms as garnish | fresh |
| Burnet | sanguisorba minor | perennial | cool flavor similar to a cucumber, salads and drinks | fresh |
| Chamomile | anthemis nobilis | perennial | tea, sauces | fresh & dried |
| Camphor Tree | cinnamomum camphora | tree | tea, bark used for smoking foods, (camphor smoked duck) in Chinese cuisine | dried |
| Capers | unopened buds of the caper bush | bush | sauces, cold roast meat, condiment, smoked seafood | fresh, dried, pickled |
| Caraway | carum carvi | bi-annual | salads, soups, sauces, stews, roasts, breads, kummel and aquavit liqueur (used seeds and fresh green leaves) usually not with fish | fresh & dried |
| Cardamom | elettaria cardamomum | perennial | other spice blends, cookies, coffee, candies, (use seeds) | dried |
| Catnip | nepeta cataria | perennial | tea | fresh & dried |
| Cayenne | capsicum minimum | annual | all dishes, a dried powder of ground hot peppers | dried |
| Celery | apium graveolens dulce | annual | vegetable, salads, soups, sauces, roasts, stews, all meats and fish | fresh & canned |
| Celery Seed | apium graveolens | annual | seeds taste like fresh celery, does not come from regular celery but from cultivated "wild celery" soups, sauces, dressings | dried |
| Chervil | anthriscus cerefolium | annual | slight licorice flavor; salads, soups, fish dishes | fresh & dried |
| 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 | dried | |
| Chives | allium schoenoprasum | bulb | soups, salads, meats, fish, condiments, eggs, cheese, blossoms as a garnish | fresh, dried, freeze-dried |
| Chives, Garlic | allium tuberosom | bulb | soups, salads, meats, fish, condiments, eggs, cheese, blossoms as a garnish, (stronger in flavor than regular chives) | fresh & dried |
| Cicely. Sweet | myrrhis odorata | perennial | licorice taste, salads, liqueurs (use seeds and leaves), desserts | fresh & dried |
| Cilantro, Chinese Parsley, Fresh Coriander | coriandrum sativum | annual | soups, chutney, fish, chicken, used in curry, Middle Eastern, Spanish, Southwestern, and Oriental cooking | fresh & dried |
| Cinnamon | cinnamomum cassia | tree | baking, stews, other spice blends, court bouillon, pickling, chutney, relishes (powdered or sticks), drinks (spiced cider) | dried and sticks |
| Clary | salvia sclarea | bi-annual | type of sage, salads, fritters, beer, eggs, stuffing | fresh & dried |
| Clove | eugenia caryophyllata | tree | baking, desserts, sauces, soups, stews, meats, court bouillon, pickles, spice blends, (unopened bud of the evergreen clove tree) | dried |
| Coriander | coriandrum sativum | annual | salads, sauces, fish dishes, chicken dishes, oriental, South western, Spanish and middle eastern cuisine | fresh & dried |
| Costmary | chrysanthemum balsamita | perennial | teas; camphor, mint-like fragrance, poultry, baking | fresh & dried |
| Crocus, Saffron | crocus sativus | perennial | soups, sauces, fish and chicken dishes | dried |
| Cumin | cuminum cyminum | annual | other spice blends, (dried seeds) | dried |
| Curry Powder | spice blend | a blend of cloves, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, cardamom, fenugreek, coriander, mace, white pepper | dried | |
| Dandelion | taraxacum officinale | perennial | salads, wine, cooked as a vegetable | fresh |
| Dill | anethum graveolens | annual | salads, sauces, soups, pickles, dips, use with fish and vegetables | fresh & dried |
| Dill Seed | anethum graveolens | annual | use like dill leaves, the blossoms may be used as a garnish | fresh & dried |
| Fennel Flower | nigella sativa | annual | desserts, fritters, garnish | fresh |
| Fennel Seeds | foeniculum vulgare | annual | sauces, sausage, pork roasts | dried |
| Fennel, Common | foeniculum vulgare | annual | soups, salads, sauces, (seeds are used most often, see above) | fresh |
| Fennel, Italian | foeniculum vulgare piperitum | annual | salads | fresh |
| Fennel, Sweet | foeniculum vulgare dulce | annual | seeds used in sauces, soups, pasta (cooked vegetable) | dried |
| Fenugreek | trigonella foenumgraecum | annual | member of the pea family, burnt sugar taste, used in spice blends, curry powder, pickling spice, chutney | dried |
| Fil | sassafras | tree | powdered leaves used to thicken gumbo's | dried |
| Garlic | allium sativum | bulb | used in everything except desserts | fresh, dried, frozen, pickled |
| Geraniums Rose | pelargonium graveolens | perennial | desserts, jellies, oils (leaves have a rose-like aroma) leaves as a garnish | fresh |
| Ginger | zingiber officinale | root | baking, desserts, soups, salads, vegetables, meats, poultry, fish; just about everything | fresh, dried, preserved, powdered |
| Ginger, Wild | asarum canadense | root | grows throughout the Northeast, not as flavorful as cultivated ginger, leaves are different as well | fresh |
| Horehound | marrubium vulgare | perennial | tea, candy, in beer makes horehound ale | fresh & dried |
| Horseradish | armoracia apathifolia | root | sauces, salads, sandwiches, condiment | fresh & dried |
| Hyssop | hyssopus officinalis | perennial | liqueurs, ice cream; tarragon/rosemary/mint-like flavor, fish, duck | fresh |
| Juniper Berries | juniperus communis | tree | flavoring of gin, sauces, stews, fish; particularly gravlax | fresh & dried |
| Lavender | lavandula officinalis | perennial | soups, baking, vegetables, oils | fresh & dried |
| Leek | allium porrum | perennial | soups, sauces, vegetables, roasts, fish, chicken, veal, beef | fresh |
| Lemon Verbena | lippia citriodora | perennial | tea, fruit salads, jelly | fresh & dried |
| Lovage | levisticum officinale | perennial | used as a confectionery like angelica (root may be powdered) | fresh & dried |
| Mace | myristica fragrans | tree | the outer web of the nutmeg berry, soups, sauces, stews, spice blends, desserts, vegetables | dried |
| Marigold, Pot | calendula officinalis | annual | leaves can be eaten in salads and flowers as a garnish, also edible. Adds a yellow color to cooked foods | fresh & dried |
| Marjoram, Pot | majorana onites | perennial | fresh leaves in salads soups, sauces, dried in chicken and beef dishes, sometimes fish, eggs | fresh & dried |
| Marjoram, Sweet | majorana hortensis | perennial | has a slightly sweeter aroma than the pot variety | fresh & dried |
| Mint, Apple | mentha gentilis | perennial | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, | fresh & dried |
| Mint, Corsican | mentha requieni | perennial | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, (a creeping mint, almost moss-like) | fresh & dried |
| Mint, Orange or Lemon | mentha citrata | perennial | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, (a.k.a. Bergamot mint) | fresh & dried |
| Mint, Peppermint | mentha piperita | perennial | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, | fresh & dried |
| Mint, Pineapple | mentha variegata | perennial | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, | fresh & dried |
| Mint, Spearmint | mentha spicata | perennial | sauces, teas, jellies, candies, drinks, | fresh & dried |
| MSG | from glutamic acid | flavor enhancer | powder | |
| Mustard, Black | brassica nigra | annual | sauces, eggs, roasts, vegetables, pickles, (use seeds) | fresh & dried |
| Mustard, White | brassica alba | annual | leaves in soup, (use seeds) | fresh & dried |
| Nasturtium | tropaeolum majus | annual | watercress -like flavor, salads and leaves and blossoms as a garnish | fresh |
| Nutmeg | myristica fragrans | tree | desserts, spice blends, sauces, pasta, vegetables, potatoes, relishes, (use grated) | dried |
| Onion | allium cepa | bulb | use in everything except desserts | fresh, dried, frozen |
| Orange Blossoms | citrus sinensis | tree | flavors water then used in desserts and sauces, petals in salads, eggs and garnish | fresh |
| Oregano | origanum vulgare | annual | soups, sauces, stews, roasts, meat, fish, pasta, breads, eggs (blossoms as a garnish) | fresh & dried |
| Paprika, Hot | capsicum frutescens | annual | soups, sauces, stews, meats, fish, vegetables | dried |
| Paprika, Sweet | capsicum annuum | annual | soups, sauces, stews, meats, fish, vegetables | dried |
| Parsley, Curly | petroselinum crispum | bi-annual | salads, soups, stews all meats and fish | fresh & dried |
| Parsley, Italian | petroselinum crispum neapolitanum | bi-annual | salads, soups, stews all meats and fish | fresh |
| Pennyroyal | mentha pulegium | perennial | teas, (peppermint-like scent) use caution as it may be poisonous to some people | fresh |
| Pepper Flakes | capsicum frutescens | annual | soups, sauces, stews, meats, fish, vegetables, pasta, pizza | dried |
| Pepper, Black | piper nigrum | bush | all foods except dessert, maybe black pepper ice cream | dried |
| 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) | dried |
| Poppy Seeds | papaver somniferum | perennial | breads, pastry, desserts, vegetables | dried |
| Pot Marigold | calendula officinalis | annual | salads | fresh |
| Pumpkin, Seeds | cucurbitaceae | annual | sauces, condiment, garnish, bread | dried |
| Rocambole | allium scorodoprasum | perennial | soups, sauces, roasts, stews, all meats, fish, game | fresh |
| Rocket | eruca sativa | annual | salads, fresh sauces | fresh |
| Rose | rosa | perennial | jams, jellies, desserts, tea as rose hip tea (petals as a garnish) rose water; chicken, eggs, sauces, game | fresh & dried |
| Rose Geranium | pelargonium graeolens | annual | teas, desserts | fresh |
| Rosemary | rosmarinus officinalis | perennial | roasts, stews, all meats, some fish, breads, sauces, oils | fresh & dried |
| Rue | ruta graveolens | perennial | 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 | fresh |
| Sage | salvia officinalis | perennial | most dishes, bread (fried as a garnish) | fresh & dried |
| Savory, Summer | satureia hortensis | annual | soups, meats, fish, cheese, eggs, sauces | fresh & dried |
| Savory, Winter | satreia montana | perennial | soups, meats, fish, cheese, eggs, sauces | fresh & dried |
| Scallions | allium cepa | annual | use like onions or chives | dried |
| Sesame | sesamum indicum | annual | sauces, oil, desserts, baking, meats, fish, candy | dried |
| Sesame, Black | sesamum nigrum | annual | sauces, oil, desserts, baking, meats, fish, candy | dried |
| Shallot | allium ascalonicum | perennial | use like onions, has a fuller richer flavor; pickles, sauces, condiments as additional use | fresh & dried |
| Sorrel | rumex scutatus | perennial | sour lemon-like flavor use in salads, sauces; particularly good with fish | fresh |
| Southernwood | artemisia abrotanum | perennial | teas | fresh |
| Sumac | rhus coriaria | tree | salad dressing, marinades, sauces | dried |
| Tansy | tanacetum vulgare | perennial | flowers as a garnish, yet may be poisonous to young children | fresh |
| Tarragon | artemisia dracunculus | perennial | salads, soups, sauces, desserts, fish, chicken, veal,, butters, vinegar; even tarragon ice cream | fresh & dried |
| Thyme, Common | thymus vulgaris | perennial | soups, sauces, roasts, stews, meats, fish, vegetables, game | fresh & dried |
| Thyme, Lemon | thymus citriodorus | perennial | soups, sauces, roasts, stews, meats, fish, vegetables, game, even lemon thyme jelly | fresh & dried |
| Thyme, Orange | thymus fragrantissimus | perennial | soups, sauces, roasts, stews, meats, fish, vegetables, game | fresh & dried |
| Tumeric | curcuma domestica | root | spice blends, sauces, dressings, pickles, fish, poultry, eggs (looks like ginger root) | dried |
| Vanilla | vanilla planifolia | bulb | an orchid; baked goods, ice cream, candy, sauces , desserts, sometimes fish like lobster in vanilla sauce | dried & extract |
| Violet, Sweet | viola odorata | perennial | salads, candy | fresh |
| Watercress | nasturtium officinale | annual | salad, cooked as a vegetable, sauces, cheese, eggs | fresh |
| Wintergreen | gaultheria procumbens | bush | wintergreen oil, candies, gum, soft drinks; (birch beer) | fresh & bark |
| Woodruff | asperula odorata | perennial | used to flavor German May-wine and other drinks | fresh & dried |
| Wormwood | artemisia absinthium | perennial | most famous as an ingredient of the liqueur absinthe | fresh & dried |