It comes as a surprise to many that clove is actually a flower bud, these buds have to be picked at just the right time. Before flowering the buds will turn a deep red and this is the ideal time to harvest your clove. Clove buds come from an evergreen bush with vibrant pink flowers and purple berries. The clove plant does best in warm and humid regions. The earliest written record of the use of clove as a medicinal herb is by the Han Dynasty in China around 300 B.C. Like cinnamon clove was a prized spice and once rivaled the value of oil.
If you have ever had a licorice stick, then you already know what fennel seeds taste like. With its mild and enigmatic flavor, it often invites comparisons to anise. It is also used in many savory dishes, and is a common ingredient in sausages. In fact, even a bit of fennel seed added to a stew can make it seem to have more meat than it actually does.
Cardamom isnt quite as familiar as most of the other spices mentioned here But there is a good chance that you have already tasted it without even knowing what it was With its distinctively sweetspicy flavor it is perfectly suited to a variety of desserts and sweets Cardamom is actually a pretty expensive spice which is probably why it isnt as common as other spices The good news is that you dont really need a lot to impart its unique flavor characteristics to what youre cooking Cardamom is believed to have cancerfighting properties It is also used to provide relief from asthma and to prevent the action of harmful microbes
Cumin is derived from the seeds of the Apiaceae family of plants. Sold in whole and powdered form, it is a common ingredient in the dishes of the Mediterranean and India, where the plant grows natively. The aroma of cumin is quite distinctive. Rich, earthy, and smoky, it is easily recognizable as the primary aromatic component of many types of chili preparations. It is also used in soups and stews, and a number of Brazilian, Indian, and South Asian dishes. Cumin is thought to increase metabolism and bolster the immune system.
Tamarind is a sour fruit harvested from the Fabaceae tree, which is indigenous to Africa. The fruit has a characteristic pod-like appearance, which contains several seeds wrapped in fleshy pulp. Tamarind is of course used in many African dishes. But it is also a popular ingredient in the cuisines of Latin America and Asia, where the fruit is used to impart its distinctive sourness to soups and sauces. Tamarind is a natural laxative, and it is known to provide relief from fever. Some people even gargle a solution made from steeped tamarind in order to ease the discomfort from sore throats.
Nutmeg is an earthy, fragrant, and flavorful spice that works equally well in desserts and savory dishes. It is derived from the seeds of the Myristica plant, and its nutty flavor often invites comparisons to cinnamon. Eggnog is of course what most people in the West sprinkle nutmeg into. But it is also a popular ingredient in Indian and Indonesian food. In the Caribbean, it isnâ??t unusual to find drinks flavored with this spice.