Culinary Herbs and Spices
This list of Culinary Herbs and Spices is not comprehensive but covers the most frequently used herbs and spices in Europe.
Culinary herbs and spices
| Herbs and Spices - common name |
Botanical name |
Part of the plant[1] - botanical definition |
Climate Zone[2] |
Herb or Spice |
| Aniseed
|
Pimpinella anisum |
Fruit[1a] |
TE
|
Spice |
| Basil |
Ocimum basilicum |
1b
|
|
|
| Caraway
|
Carum carvi
|
Fruit[1a]
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Cardamom seeds
|
Elettaria cardamomum
|
Seed |
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Cardamom, whole pods
|
Elettaria cardamomum
|
Fruit
|
TR
|
Spice |
|
Celery leaves
|
Apium graveolens dulce
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Celery seed
|
Apium graveolens
|
Seed
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Chervil
|
Anthriscus cerefolium
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Chillies
|
Capsicum frutescens or annuum
|
Fruit
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Chives
|
Allium schoenoprasum
|
Leaf
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Cinnamon
|
Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Sri Lanka)
Cinnamomum burmanii (Indonesia)
Cinnamomum loureirii (Vietnam)
Cinnamomum aromaticum (China)
|
Inner bark
|
TR
|
Spice
Spice
Spice
Spice
|
|
Cloves
|
Syzygium aromaticum
|
Flower bud
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Coriander leaves
|
Coriandrum sativum
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Coriander seed
|
Coriandrum sativum
|
Fruit[1a]
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Cumin seed
|
Cuminum cyminum
|
Fruit[1a]
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Dill seed
|
Anethum graveolens
|
Fruit[1a]
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Dill tops>
|
Anethum graveolens
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Fennel seed
|
Foeniculum vulgare
|
Fruit[1a]
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Fenugreek
|
Trigonella foenum-graecum
|
Seed
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Galanga
|
Alpinia galanga
|
Rhizome
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Garlic
|
Allium sativum
|
Bulb
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Ginger
|
Zingiber officinale
|
Rhizome
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Juniper berries
|
Juniperus communis
|
Fruit
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Kaffir Lime Leaves
|
Citrus hystrix
|
Leaf
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Laurel leaves
|
Laurus nobilis
|
Leaf
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Lemon Grass
|
Cymbopogon citratus
|
Leaf
|
TR
|
Herb
|
|
Mace
|
Myristica fragrans
|
Aril
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Marjoram
|
Majorana hortensis
|
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Mustard seed
|
Sinapis alba
Brassica nigra
Brassica juncea
|
Seed
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Nutmeg
|
Myristica fragrans
|
Seed
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Onion
|
Allium cepa
|
Bulb
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Oregano
|
Origanum vulgare
|
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Paprika
|
Capsicum annuum or frutescens
|
Fruit
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Parsley
|
Petroselinum crispum
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Pepper, green dried[3]
|
Piper nigrum
|
Fruit
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Pepper, black
|
Piper nigrum
|
Fruit
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Pepper, white
|
Piper nigrum
|
Seed[1a]
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Pimento
|
Pimenta dioica
|
Fruit
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Pink pepper
|
Schinus terebinthifolius
Schinus molle>
|
Fruit
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Rosemary
|
Rosmarinus officinalis
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Saffron
|
Crocus sativus
|
Parts of pistil
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Sage
|
Salvia officinalis
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Savory
|
Satureja hortensis
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Sichuan pepper
|
Zanthoxylum piperitum
|
Fruit
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Spearmint
|
Mentha spicata
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Star anise
|
Illicium verum
|
Fruit
|
TE
|
Spice
|
|
Thyme
|
Thymus vulgaris
|
1b
|
TE
|
Herb
|
|
Turmeric
|
Curcuma longa
|
Rhizome
|
TR
|
Spice
|
|
Vanilla
|
Vanilla planifolia (true)
Vanilla tahitensis (hybrid)
|
Fruit
|
TR
|
Spice
|
Notes
[1a] The traditional names and definitions which have developed over time
sometimes deviate from modern botanical definitions; for example aniseed and
other
seeds are botanically fruits, and white pepper - which is sometimes referred to
as
a fruit, is actually a seed.
[1b] The term 'Herbs', usually refers to the leaves or the whole, soft part of
the plant.
[2] Spices may be classified in various ways, of which the most used are the
Part of the Plant from which they derived or the Climate Zone where they are
grown.
TR = tropical zone
TE = temperate zone
[3] Green pepper in brine is generally defined as condiment, as are capers (not
in the list).
Last reviewed: 14 May 2010