1. Allspice:
Allspice is a spice made from the dried berries of the Pimenta dioica plant native to Jamaica, Honduras, and Mexico. It has a strong flavour that combines elements of cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, and clove. It's commonly used in Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and Latin American cuisines, and is a standard ingredient in many traditional dishes.
2. Anise Seed:
Anise seed is an aromatic spice made from the seeds of the Pimpinella anisum plant native to Egypt, India, and Syria. It has a sweet flavour with licorice-like hints of fennel and star anise. Spice is often used in baking as well as savoury dishes like soup and chilli.
3. Basil:
Basil is a popular herb that adds flavour to salads, sauces, pizzas, pastas, and more. Native to India and other tropical areas of Asia, it has a deep earthy flavor with hints of minty sweetness. It's available fresh or dried and is a key ingredient in Italian pesto.
4. Bay Leaves:
Bay leaves are aromatic herbs that come from the Laurus nobilis plant native to the Mediterranean region. They have an intense earthy flavour with hints of citrus and clove. They're most often used in soups, stews, sauces, and marinades to add depth of flavour.
5. Cayenne Pepper:
Cayenne pepper is a red chilli powder made from ground dried cayenne peppers, which are native to Central and South America. It has a spicy kick with notes of smoky heat that lingers on the tongue. The spice is used in many dishes around the world and can also be used to make hot sauces.
6. Celery Salt:
Celery salt is a seasoning blend of ground celery seed and table salt. It has a mild, slightly salty flavour that's similar to regular table salt with an added layer of earthy celery flavour. It's often used as a garnish on salads, seafood dishes, eggs, and more.
7. Chili Powder:
Chilli powder is a mix of ground chilli peppers and other spices like cumin and oregano. It adds heat, smokiness, and depth of flavour to dishes like tacos, enchiladas, chilis, stews, soups, and more. The spice blend varies depending on the region, but typically features a blend of chilli peppers, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.
8. Cilantro:
Cilantro is an herb native to South Asia that has a pungent aroma and flavour. It's often used in Mexican and Latin American dishes like salsa and guacamole as well as curries and salads. The leaves are also popularly chopped up as a garnish for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, soups, and more.
9. Paprika:
Paprika is ground red pepper made from various varieties of pepper plants native to Mexico and Central America. It adds smoky heat along with sweet and earthy flavours. The spice is commonly used in Spanish, Hungarian, and Middle Eastern cuisines to add flavour to dishes like soup, stews, or goulash.
10. Sesame Seeds:
Sesame seeds are small edible seeds that come from the sesamum indicum plant native to India and Africa. They have a nutty aroma and flavour with hints of sweetness. The seeds are often used as a garnish for noodles, salads, stir-fries, sushi rolls, and more. They're also a key ingredient in tahini and other Middle Eastern sauces.