🌶️Culinary Guide

The Spice Route

Explore our collection of 74 spices from around the world. Discover their origins, flavors and culinary uses.

How to use The Spice Route?

The Spice Route is your complete guide to mastering the art of spices in cooking. Each detailed entry gives you:

  • Geographic origin and history of the spice
  • Taste profile with intensity and heat level
  • Perfect pairings with meats, fish and vegetables
  • Usage tips and mistakes to avoid
  • Substitutions if you don't have the spice

74 spices found

A
6 spices
🌿

Poivre sauvage africain

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This pepper comes from wild plants in Central Africa.

Afrique
viandes
🌿

Piment aleppo

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Originating from Aleppo, Syria, this chili is prized for its moderate heat and slightly fruity flavor.

Moyen-Orient
salades
🌿

Piment ancho

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Dried version of poblano pepper, ancho offers a fruity taste with raisin notes and mild heat. Base for Mexican mole sauces.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandespoissons
🌿

Poivre andaliman

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Andaliman pepper comes from Sumatra and belongs to the Sichuan-type pepper family.

Asie
viandespoissons
🌿

Chili árbol

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Arbol chili is a traditional Mexican pepper, long and thin, valued for its clean heat.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandes
🌿

Graines de roquette

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Arugula has been cultivated since antiquity around the Mediterranean.

Méditerranée
salades
B
6 spices
🌿

Berbéré (mélange)

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Spicy, complex Ethiopian blend including chili, ginger, coriander, cardamom and fenugreek. Base for traditional Ethiopian stews.

Afrique
viandespoissons
🌿

Piment oiseau

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Bird's eye chili is widely used in Africa and Asia.

Asie, Afrique
🌿

Gingembre noir

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Black ginger is a rare Asian variety with deeper, camphor-like notes.

Asie
🌿

Graines de moutarde noire

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Common in Indian cooking (tempering) and pickling, black mustard seeds are stronger than yellow mustard seeds.

Inde
choux
🌿

Poivre noir

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Native to India's Malabar Coast, black pepper has been one of the most traded spices in history, adding warmth and aromatic heat.

Inde
viandespoissons
🌿

Graines de moutarde brune

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Brown mustard has been used for centuries in India and Europe.

Inde
C
12 spices
🌿

Mélange cajun

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Louisiana Cajun blend combining paprika, garlic, onion, pepper and herbs. The zesty flavor typical of Creole and Cajun cuisine.

Amérique
viandespoissons
🌿

Piment carolina reaper

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Developed in South Carolina, this pepper was once the world's hottest according to Guinness World Records.

🌿

Piment cascabel

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

A dried Mexican pepper named 'rattle' because its seeds make noise when shaken.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
🌿

Piment de Cayenne

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Cayenne pepper is tied to the cuisines of the Americas and spread worldwide after early exploration. It brings clean, sharp heat.

Amérique
viandeslégumes
🌿

Piment chilhuacle

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

A rare pepper from Oaxaca, Mexico, essential for traditional mole negro.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Native to the Americas, chili gets its heat from capsaicin. Thousands of varieties exist, from mild to blazing hot. Essential in Mexican, Indian and Asian cuisines.

Méditerranée, Amérique
viandespoissons
🌿

Chili chiltepin

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Chiltepin is considered one of the oldest wild chilies in Mexico.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandes
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Smoked and dried jalapeño, chipotle has a deep smoky flavor with medium heat. Essential in Tex-Mex cuisine and barbecue sauces.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandespoissons
🌿

Poivre noir concassé

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Black pepper is one of the oldest spices in the world.

steakssalades
🌿

Mélange créole

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Creole spice blends originate from Caribbean and Louisiana cuisines.

Amérique, Caraïbes
viandespoissons
🌿

Baie de poivre cubèbe

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Cubeb is an aromatic Indonesian pepper once prized in Europe. It tastes peppery with a camphor-like edge.

Asie du Sud-Est, Indonésie
viandescharcuteries
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Cubeb is an aromatic Indonesian pepper once popular in Europe.

Asie du Sud-Est, Indonésie
viandescharcuteries
D
1 spice
🌿

Jalapeño séché

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Jalapeño peppers originate from Mexico and are widely used in Latin American cuisine.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandes
E
1 spice
🌿

Piment d'Espelette

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

From France's Basque Country, Espelette pepper is known for mild heat and fruity aromas (often protected by designation in France).

France, Espagne
viandespoissons
G
10 spices
🌿

Cresson alénois (graines)

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Garden cress has been grown since antiquity in Europe and the Middle East for its pungent seeds.

Moyen-Orient
salades
🌿

Chili ghost (bhut jolokia)

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Native to India, Bhut Jolokia was once one of the hottest peppers in the world.

Inde
🌿

Gingembre

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Ginger originates from Asia and has been used for centuries in cooking and drinks. Its flavor is spicy, fresh, and citrusy.

Asie
🌿

Piment coréen gochugaru

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Sun-dried red pepper flakes, the foundation of Korean cuisine and kimchi.

Asie
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Seeds of Aframomum melegueta, grains of paradise have an intense aroma reminiscent of pepper, cardamom and ginger. Rediscovered African spice.

Afrique
viandespoissons
🌿

Moutarde verte

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Green mustard is used in Asia and Africa for both leaves and seeds.

Asie, Afrique
légumes
🌿

Poivre vert

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Green peppercorns are harvested unripe. They taste fresher and more herbal than black pepper, especially popular in pepper sauces.

steaksvolailles
🌿

Baie du Sichuan verte

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Green Sichuan pepper is harvested earlier than red, offering a fresher, more citrus-forward profile.

Asie
volaillespoissons
🌿

Gingembre moulu

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Ground ginger is widely used in Asia, the Middle East, and Western baking.

Asie, Moyen-Orient
🌿

Piment guajillo

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Dried Mexican chili with smooth, shiny skin, guajillo offers a fruity, slightly tangy flavor with moderate heat. Excellent in salsas.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandespoissons
H
2 spices
🌿

Piment habanero

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Originally from Amazonia but popularized in Yucatán, one of the world's hottest peppers.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
🌿

Paprika fort

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Paprika with a good dose of heat, for those who like warmth along with color. Popular in goulash and spicy dishes.

Méditerranée, Hongrie
viandespoissons
J
2 spices
🌿

Poivre de Java

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Java pepper is grown in Indonesia and has a straightforward heat.

Asie, Asie du Sud-Est
viandes
🌿

Mélange jerk

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Spicy Caribbean blend for Jamaican marinades. Combines allspice, thyme, Scotch bonnet pepper and warm spices.

Caraïbes, Afrique
viandespoissons
K
1 spice
🌿

Poivre de Kampot

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Kampot pepper is a Cambodian PGI pepper renowned worldwide.

Asie, Asie du Sud-Est
viandespoissons
L
1 spice
🌿

Poivre long

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Used in Europe before black pepper, long pepper originates from India and provides gentle, complex heat.

Inde
viandeslégumes
M
2 spices
🌿

Chili morita

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Morita is a smoked jalapeño commonly used in Mexican cuisine.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandes
🌿

Piment mulato

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Mulato chili is a dried Mexican pepper related to poblano.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
N
2 spices
🌿

Chili negro

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Negro chili is a Mexican pepper dried until dark, commonly used in mole sauces.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandes
🌿

Baie du Népal

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Nepal pepper refers to aromatic Himalayan pepper berries with fresh, complex notes.

Asie
viandeslégumes
P
3 spices
🌿

Graines de papaye

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Papaya seeds are used in tropical cuisines.

salades
🌿

Chili pasilla

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Pasilla is a dried Mexican chili widely used in traditional sauces for its deep, slightly fruity notes.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandeslégumes
🌿

Piment piquín

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Pequin chili is one of Mexico's traditional wild peppers.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
fruits
R
2 spices
🌿

Galanga rouge

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Red galangal is a more pungent variety widely used in Asian cuisine.

Asie
🌿

Poivre rouge

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Red peppercorn is black pepper harvested at full ripeness.

viandespoissons
S
11 spices
🌿

Baie de sansho

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Sansho is a Japanese pepper related to Sichuan pepper, long used for its citrusy, numbing notes.

Asie
volaillepoisson
🌿

Poivre de Sarawak

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Sarawak pepper comes from Malaysia and is valued for its balance.

Asie, Asie du Sud-Est
viandeslégumes
🌿

Chili scorpion

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Scorpion chili originates from the Caribbean and is known for its extreme heat and fruity intensity.

Amérique, Caraïbes
🌿

Piment serrano

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Serrano chili originates from the mountainous regions of Mexico.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Japanese seven-spice blend including chili, Sichuan pepper, citrus zest and sesame seeds. Perfect on noodles and soups.

Asie
viandespoissons
🌿

Poivre de Sichuan

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Native to China, Sichuan pepper isn't a true pepper but a berry with citrusy, numbing notes.

Asie, Chine
porccanard
🌿

Poivre de Cubèbe fumé

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Cubeb has been used since the Middle Ages; the smoked version enhances its character.

viandescharcuteries
🌿

Racine de gingembre fumée

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Smoked ginger is a modern variation adding aromatic depth.

Asie
viandes
🌿

Paprika piquant fumé

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This paprika combines heat with traditional smoking.

Méditerranée, Hongrie
viandes
🌿

Poivre fumé

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Smoked pepper is a modern adaptation adding depth and character.

viandes grilléeslégumes rôtis
🌿

Mélange barbecue épicé

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Barbecue rubs originated in North America to season grilled meats.

Amérique
viandes grilléeslégumes rôtis
T
4 spices
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Indian blend for tandoor marinades, colored with paprika and chili. Perfect for chicken, lamb and grilled vegetables.

Inde
viandespoissons
🌿

Poivre de Tasmanie

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tasmanian pepperberry comes from Australia with woody and fruity notes.

viandesgibier
🌿

Poivre de Tellicherry

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Premium black pepper variety from India's Malabar coast, berries ripened longer on the vine.

Inde
steaksviandes grillées
🌿

Poivre de Timut

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Nepalese cousin of Sichuan pepper, Timut pepper stands out with pronounced grapefruit and passion fruit notes. Electrifying sensation on the palate.

Asie
viandespoissons
V
1 spice
🌿

Poivre voatsiperifery

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Voatsiperifery is a wild pepper from Madagascar, hand-harvested.

Afrique
viandespoissons
W
6 spices
🌿

Wasabi (poudre)

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wasabi is an iconic Japanese root.

Asie
poissons crus
🌿

Poivre blanc

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

White pepper comes from the same berries as black pepper but is de-husked. It's milder and visually discreet in light sauces.

volaillespoissons
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

White Sarawak pepper comes from Malaysia and is valued for its gentle aroma.

Asie, Asie du Sud-Est
volaillespoissons
🌿

Gingembre sauvage

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wild ginger grows naturally in parts of Asia and North America.

Asie, Amérique
🌿

Graines de moutarde sauvage

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wild mustard grows naturally in Europe and Asia.

Asie
🌿

Baie de poivre sauvage

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

"Wild pepper" can refer to various peppery berries foraged in different regions, often more aromatic and complex than standard pepper.

viandespoissons
Y
1 spice
🌿

Graines de moutarde jaune

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Mustard seeds have been used since ancient times in Europe and Asia. Yellow mustard is milder than black mustard.

Asie
choux