Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices are indispensable to any cuisine, as they are the main ingredients that render the special flavors of dishes. Most of them also have plenty of medicinal properties as well.

Though often available in the same culinary section at the supermarket, herbs and spices are distinctly different from each other. The aromatic leaves, stems, and flowering parts of a plant used in cooking and medicins are considered herbs. On the other hand, spices are generally produced by drying other plant parts, such as the roots, barks, fruits, and seeds. Below are two separate lists for the well-known culinary herbs and spices. 

List of Spices Commonly Used in Cooking

Types of Spices

  • Cinnamon
  • Allspice
  • Nutmeg
  • Anise (Aniseed)
  • Cardamom
  • Asafoetida
  • Caraway
  • Black Cardamom (Badi Ilaichi)
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Celery Seed
  • Star Anise
  • Cassia
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Chili Pepper
  • Aleppo Pepper
  • Chironji (Charoli)
  • Ajwain (Carom Seeds)
  • Dill Seed
  • Fennel Seed
  • Fenugreek
  • White Cinnamon (Wild Cinnamon)
  • Clove
  • Cubeb Pepper
  • Cumin
  • Jointed Flatsedge (Cyperus Articulatus)
  • Sesame Seed
  • Blue Fenugreek
  • Mugwort (Artemisia)
  • Annatto
  • Barberry
  • Blue Fenugreek (Blue Melilot)
  • Black Mustard
  • Brown Mustard
  • White Mustard
  • Paprika
  • Pepper (Black, White, And Green)
  • Pink Pepper (Brazilian Pepper)
  • Poppy Seed
  • Turmeric
  • Wasabi
  • Saffron
  • Black Cumin
  • Licorice
  • Vanilla
  • Greater Galangal
  • Lesser Galangal
  • Fingerroot (Chinese Ginger)
  • Kencur (Type Of Galangal)
  • Caper
  • Golpar
  • Horseradish
  • Jakhya
  • Jalapeño
  • Juniper Berry
  • Alligator Pepper (Mbongo Spice)
  • Long Pepper
  • Kokam (Fruit And Seed)
  • Korarima (Ethiopian Cardamom)
  • Kodampuli (Malabar Tamarind)
  • Lovage Seeds
  • Keluak
  • Carob (Locust Beans)
  • Mace
  • Mahleb
  • Kutjura
  • Muskmallow Seeds
  • New Mexico Chile
  • Nigella (Black Caraway Or Kalonji)
  • Njangsa (Munguella)
  • Mountain Horopito
  • Olida
  • Orris Root
  • Grains Of Paradise
  • Grains Of Selim
  • Cao Guo (Chinese Black Cardamom)
  • Kewra (Pandan Flower Extract)
  • Paracress
  • Dorrigo Pepper
  • Mountain Pepper (Cornish Pepper Leaf)
  • Passion Berry
  • Peruvian Pepper
  • Deulkkae (Perilla Frutescens Seeds)
  • Leptotes Bicolor
  • Quassia
  • Red Rice Powder
  • Sichuan Pepper
  • Spikenard
  • Sumac
  • Za’atar
  • Tasmanian Pepper
  • Tonka Beans
  • Voatsiperifery
  • Wattleseed

List of the Common Culinary Herbs

List of Herbs

  • Thyme
  • Culantro
  • Curry Leaf
  • Mint Leaf
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Sage
  • Chives
  • Lemongrass
  • Rosemary
  • Lavender
  • Avens
  • Chamomile
  • Avocado Leaf (only the non-toxic varieties)
  • Sweet Basil
  • Holy Basil
  • Lemon Thyme
  • Cilantro (Coriander Leaves)
  • Lemon Balm
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Winter Savory
  • Summer Savory
  • Sorrel
  • Chervil
  • Sassafras
  • Garlic Chives
  • Bay Leaf
  • Indian Bay Leaf
  • Indonesian Bay Leaf
  • Mexican Bay Leaf
  • West Indian Bay Leaf
  • Marjoram
  • Hyssop
  • Tarragon
  • Borage
  • California Bay Laurel
  • Celery Leaf
  • Chicory
  • Woodruff
  • Cicely (Sweet Cicely)
  • Aniseed Myrtle
  • Cinnamon Myrtle
  • Clary (Clary Sage)
  • Vietnamese Coriander
  • Costmary
  • Alexanders
  • Elderflower
  • Jasmine Flowers
  • Alkanet (an edible dye)
  • Angelica
  • Curry Plant (Italian Strawflower)
  • Spearmint
  • Dill Weed
  • Dootsi
  • Epazote
  • Fish Mint
  • Boldo
  • Huacatay
  • Jimbu
  • Kaffir Lime Leaves
  • Yarrow
  • Lemon Ironbark
  • Lemon Myrtle
  • Hoja Santa
  • Lesser Calamint
  • Lovage Leaves
  • Mastic
  • Koseret Leaves
  • Filé Powder (Gumbo Filé)
  • Cuban Oregano
  • Mexican Oregano
  • Pandan Leaf (Screwpine)
  • Pápalo
  • Peppermint Gum Leaf
  • Purslane
  • Rice Paddy Herb
  • Kkaennip (Perilla frutescens leaves)
  • Shiso
  • Pipicha (Straight-leaf Pápalo)
  • Pennyroyal
  • Safflower
  • Salad Burnet
  • Shiso
  • Silphium
  • Rue
  • Sheep Sorrel
  • Stone Parsley
  • Kinh Gioi (Vietnamese Balm)
  • Wintergreen
  • Sweet Woodruff
  • Yerba Buena
  • Water Pepper (Smartweed)
  • Wild Thyme
  • Wood Avens (Herb Bennet)
  • Common Wormwood
  • Zedoary

Herbs and Spices by Season & Occasion

Herbs and Spices by What They Are Best For

Herbs and Spices by Country

Asian Spices

  • Indian Spices
  • Thai Spices
  • Chinese Spices
  • Japanese Spices
  • Korean Spices
  • Mid East Spices
  • Persian Spices
  • Turkish Spices

African Spices

  • Moroccan Spices
  • Ethiopian Spices

Others

  • Southern Spices
  • Mexican Spices
  • Mediterranean Spices
  • Brazilian Spices
  • Jamaican Spices
  • Caribbean Spices
  • Italian Spices
  • Spanish Spices