Spice |
Type |
Color |
Flavor Profile |
Common Uses |
Cinnamon |
Bark |
Brown to reddish |
Sweet, warm, slightly woody |
Baking, desserts, curries |
Black Pepper |
Seed (Berry) |
Black |
Spicy, pungent, hot |
Seasoning, soups, sauces, meats |
Cloves |
Flower Bud |
Dark Brown |
Warm, sweet, aromatic, slightly bitter |
Baking, stews, meats, teas |
Cardamom |
Seed (Pod) |
Green, Brown |
Sweet, floral, slightly spicy |
Desserts, chai, curries, beverages |
Cumin |
Seed |
Brown to yellow |
Earthy, warm, slightly nutty |
Curries, stews, soups, rice dishes |
Turmeric |
Root (Rhizome) |
Bright Yellow |
Earthy, bitter, warm |
Curries, rice, soups, stews |
Ginger |
Root (Rhizome) |
Brown (Skin), Yellow (Flesh) |
Pungent, spicy, slightly sweet |
Baking, teas, stir-fries, sauces |
Nutmeg |
Seed |
Brown |
Warm, sweet, slightly peppery |
Baking, desserts, beverages, sauces |
Paprika |
Ground Spice |
Red |
Sweet, smoky, mild to hot |
Meats, sauces, soups, stews |
Chili Pepper |
Fruit (Capsicum) |
Red, Green, Yellow |
Hot, pungent, spicy |
Sauces, soups, curries, salsas |
Mustard Seeds |
Seed |
Yellow, Brown, Black |
Hot, sharp, slightly bitter |
Pickling, sauces, curries |
Saffron |
Stigma of Flower |
Red, Yellow |
Floral, sweet, slightly bitter |
Rice dishes, sauces, desserts |
Fenugreek |
Seed |
Yellow-Brown |
Bitter, earthy, slightly sweet |
Curries, stews, spice blends |
Allspice |
Berry |
Brown to Dark Red |
Sweet, spicy, aromatic, clove-like |
Baking, marinades, sauces, stews |
Bay Leaves |
Leaf |
Green (Dried) |
Slightly bitter, herbal, earthy |
Soups, stews, sauces, braises |