The Spice Route
Explore our collection of 22 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
22 spices found
Bois d'Inde
Also called Jamaica pepper, allspice is a Caribbean berry tasting like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg combined.
Piment ancho
Dried version of poblano pepper, ancho offers a fruity taste with raisin notes and mild heat. Base for Mexican mole sauces.
Achiote (roucou)
Annatto comes from the seeds of the achiote tree and has long been used in Latin America and the Caribbean to color and flavor foods.
Chili árbol
Arbol chili is a traditional Mexican pepper, long and thin, valued for its clean heat.
Mélange cajun
Louisiana Cajun blend combining paprika, garlic, onion, pepper and herbs. The zesty flavor typical of Creole and Cajun cuisine.
Piment de Cayenne
Cayenne pepper is tied to the cuisines of the Americas and spread worldwide after early exploration. It brings clean, sharp heat.
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.
Chili chiltepin
Chiltepin is considered one of the oldest wild chilies in Mexico.
Chipotle
Smoked and dried jalapeño, chipotle has a deep smoky flavor with medium heat. Essential in Tex-Mex cuisine and barbecue sauces.
Mélange créole
Creole spice blends originate from Caribbean and Louisiana cuisines.
Jalapeño séché
Jalapeño peppers originate from Mexico and are widely used in Latin American cuisine.
Achiote moulu
Ground annatto is powdered annatto seed, convenient for quick mixing into rubs, marinades, and sauces.
Piment guajillo
Dried Mexican chili with smooth, shiny skin, guajillo offers a fruity, slightly tangy flavor with moderate heat. Excellent in salsas.
Origan mexicain
Mexican oregano differs from Mediterranean oregano and is widely used in Mexican cuisine.
Estragon mexicain
Widely used in French cuisine, tarragon is known for its delicate anise-like aroma.
Chili morita
Morita is a smoked jalapeño commonly used in Mexican cuisine.
Chili negro
Negro chili is a Mexican pepper dried until dark, commonly used in mole sauces.
Chili pasilla
Pasilla is a dried Mexican chili widely used in traditional sauces for its deep, slightly fruity notes.
Baie rose
Dried pink berries with a delicate, slightly peppery taste and fruity notes. Despite its name, it's not a true pepper but the fruit of Schinus molle, a South American tree.
Mélange barbecue épicé
Barbecue rubs originated in North America to season grilled meats.