🌶️Culinary Guide

The Spice Route

Explore our collection of 55 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

55 spices found

A
1 spice
🌿

Graines de roquette

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Arugula has been cultivated since antiquity around the Mediterranean.

Méditerranée
salades
C
5 spices
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

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
🌿

Menthe chocolat

Mint has been used since antiquity in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Asia for its refreshing aroma.

Méditerranée, Asie
agneausalades
🌿

Coriandre (graines)

Coriander has been grown since ancient times. The seeds taste warmer and more citrusy than the fresh leaves.

Méditerranée
légumes rôtislégumes rôtis
🌿

Coriandre (graines)

Coriander has been grown since ancient times. The seeds taste warmer and more citrusy than the fresh leaves.

Inde, Moyen-Orient
légumes rôtislégumes rôtis
🌿

Herbe à curry

Curry herb is a Mediterranean aromatic plant whose aroma recalls curry.

Inde, Méditerranée
viandeslégumes
D
8 spices
🌿

Aneth (graines)

Widely used in Northern and Eastern Europe, dill has a fresh anise-like aroma and is often paired with fish.

Méditerranée
poissonssalades
🌿

Basilic séché

Basil is a signature herb of Italian and Asian cuisines, known for its fresh, sweet aroma.

Méditerranée, Asie
poissonstomates
🌿

Cerfeuil séché

Chervil is a classic French herb, used fresh or dried.

Méditerranée, France
volaillespoissons
🌿

Menthe séchée

Mint has been used since antiquity in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Asia for its refreshing aroma.

Moyen-Orient, Méditerranée
agneausalades
🌿

Persil séché

Parsley is a European herb used since ancient times, both as garnish and seasoning.

Méditerranée
poissonssalades
🌿

Menthe poivrée séchée

Mint has been used since antiquity in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Asia for its refreshing aroma.

Méditerranée, Asie
agneausalades
🌿

Estragon séché

Tarragon is a classic French herb prized for its anise-like aroma.

Méditerranée, France
volaillespoissons
🌿

Basilic thaï séché

Basil is a signature herb of Italian and Asian cuisines, known for its fresh, sweet aroma.

Asie, Méditerranée
poissonstomates
F
2 spices
🌿

Fenouil (graines)

Common in Mediterranean cooking, fennel has a gentle anise-like flavor. Its seeds are used in savory dishes and teas.

Méditerranée
saucisseslégumes rôtis
🌿

Fenugrec

Fenugreek has been used since antiquity in the Middle East and India. The seeds taste warm, slightly bitter, and nutty.

Inde, Méditerranée
légumes
G
7 spices
🌿

Native to Central Asia, garlic has been used for thousands of years across Mediterranean and Asian cuisines.

Méditerranée, Asie
viandesvolailles
🌿

Ail en poudre

Garlic powder is dehydrated garlic, developed for long shelf life and convenience in modern cooking.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumes
🌿

Ail granulé

Granulated garlic is a coarser dehydrated form than powder, popular in dry rubs and seasoning blends.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumes
🌿

Origan grec

Greek oregano is a Mediterranean herb emblematic of Greek cuisine.

Méditerranée
viandestomates
🌿

Coriandre moulue

Ground coriander is widely used worldwide for its warm, citrusy aroma.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumes
🌿

Graines d'aneth moulues

Widely used in Northern and Eastern Europe, dill has a fresh anise-like aroma and is often paired with fish.

Méditerranée
poissonssalades
🌿

Réglisse moulue

Root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, licorice offers a sweet, slightly bitter aroma. Used in both sweet preparations and some savory dishes.

Méditerranée, Asie
viandespoissons
H
2 spices
🌿

Herbes de Provence

A classic blend from southern France, herbes de Provence usually combine thyme, rosemary, oregano, and savory.

Méditerranée, France
viandes grilléespoulet
🌿

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
L
3 spices
🌿

Basilic citronné

Basil is a signature herb of Italian and Asian cuisines, known for its fresh, sweet aroma.

Asie, Méditerranée
poissonstomates
🌿

Thym citron

Lemon thyme is an aromatic variety of Mediterranean thyme.

Méditerranée
volaillespoissons
🌿

Livèche

Lovage is an ancient European herb with a celery-like taste, used since antiquity.

Méditerranée
salades
M
3 spices
🌿

Mahlep

Seeds of Prunus mahaleb, mahleb has a sweet fragrance reminiscent of a cherry-almond cross. Used in Greek and Middle Eastern pastries.

Moyen-Orient, Méditerranée
viandespoissons
🌿

Marjolaine

Leaves of Origanum majorana, marjoram offers a more delicate aroma than oregano with sweet, floral notes. Perfect in stuffings and meat dishes.

Méditerranée
viandespoissons
🌿

Origan mexicain

Mexican oregano differs from Mediterranean oregano and is widely used in Mexican cuisine.

Amérique, Amérique centrale
viandesharicots
O
1 spice
🌿

Origan

Widely used in Italy and Greece, oregano is a signature Mediterranean herb.

Méditerranée
viandessauces tomate
P
2 spices
🌿
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Paprika is a mild to moderately spicy spice made from dried and ground red peppers. Its taste ranges from sweet and fruity to smoky and intense depending on its preparation.

Méditerranée, Hongrie
viandespoissons
🌿

Basilic pourpre

Purple basil is a decorative and aromatic variety prized for its color and slightly spicy flavor.

Méditerranée
salades
R
2 spices
🌿

Ail rôti séché

Dried roasted garlic captures roasted garlic's mellow, caramel-like character in a shelf-stable form.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumes rôtis
🌿

Romarin

Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb closely associated with roasting and grilling.

Méditerranée
agneaupoulet
S
11 spices
🌿

Sarriette

An ancient Mediterranean herb, savory is often used with legumes and meats.

Méditerranée
viandesharicots
🌿

Fenouil marin

Sea fennel grows along European coasts and was used by sailors to prevent scurvy.

Méditerranée
poissonssalades
🌿

Paprika fumé

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Strongly associated with Spain (pimentón), smoked paprika is made from peppers that are dried and smoked, creating a deep, woody flavor.

Méditerranée, Hongrie
viandeslégumes rôtis
🌿

Romarin fumé

Smoked rosemary is a modern variation enhancing Mediterranean aroma.

Méditerranée
viandespommes de terre
🌿

Paprika doux fumé

Smoked paprika comes from Spain and is wood-smoked.

Méditerranée, Hongrie
viandespommes de terre
🌿

Thym fumé

Smoked thyme is a modern variation of Mediterranean thyme.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumes rôtis
🌿

Fleur de sel épicée

Méditerranée, France
viandespoissons
🌿

Fenugrec germé séché

Sprouted fenugreek is a traditional Indian ingredient, where germination enhances flavor and nutrients.

Inde, Méditerranée
légumineuses
🌿

Sarriette d'été

Summer savory is a traditional Mediterranean herb.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumineuses
🌿

Fenouil doux

Sweet fennel has been used since antiquity around the Mediterranean.

Méditerranée
charcuteriespoissons
🌿

Paprika doux

Powder from dried sweet peppers with a fruity, slightly sweet taste. Adds color and flavor without heat. Essential in Hungarian and Spanish cuisine.

Méditerranée, Hongrie
viandespoissons
T
2 spices
🌿

Thym

Thyme is a Mediterranean herb used since ancient times to flavor dishes and help preserve foods.

Méditerranée
viandesvolailles
🌿

Fleur de thym

Thyme flower is harvested for its more delicate aroma than leaves.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumes
W
6 spices
🌿

Cerfeuil sauvage

Wild chervil grows naturally in Europe and has long been used as a delicate aromatic herb.

Méditerranée
poissonssalades
🌿

Ail des ours séché

Wild garlic is a European woodland plant valued for a gentler, more herbal garlic flavor. Dried, it becomes a convenient seasoning.

Méditerranée
pommes de terre
🌿

Ail sauvage

Wild garlic (often used similarly to ramsons depending on naming) is a foraged aromatic prized for its green garlic-like flavor.

Méditerranée
salades
🌿

Livèche sauvage

Wild lovage grows naturally in Europe and offers a more rustic flavor than cultivated varieties.

Méditerranée
légumes
🌿

Romarin sauvage

Wild rosemary grows naturally around the Mediterranean basin.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumes rôtis
🌿

Thym sauvage

Wild thyme grows naturally in Mediterranean regions.

Méditerranée
viandeslégumes rôtis