SPICEography 
Chicory and dandelions both belong to the same family and have a lot in common in terms of appearance and taste. You can divide both chicory and dandelions into the two parts of each plant that are most commonly used: the leaves or greens and the roots. Let’s compare to …
Dill is popular both as a fresh herb and when dried. You will find it in recipes from Eastern Europe as well as in a few classic American dishes. It is one of those rare ingredients that enhances a dish’s visual appeal and its flavor to equal degrees. If you …
Maca powder is made from the tuber of a cruciferous vegetable. It is shaped like a turnip and is about the size of a large lime. Maca root grows high above sea-level in the Andes mountains where people have used it as food for thousands of years. While it has …
Dutch process cocoa powder and regular cocoa powder are both versions of the same thing. They are both cocoa beans that have been ground after being fermented and roasted. The two have a lot in common and are among the most popular ways to get the chocolate flavor in everything …
Stevia is a natural sweetener extracted from the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It is many times sweeter than sugar without the health problems that sugar consumption can cause. Try one of the stevia substitutes below if you can’t find stevia in your local supermarket, would rather not use it or don’t …
If you are going to purchase and use wasabi, remember that there are two varieties: The imitation wasabi that you see in the West and the true wasabi rhizome used in Japan. The wasabi rhizome may be grated and used, but that is rare outside of Japan. The different forms …
Like other traditional spice blends, curry is highly subject to variation. It differs from region to region based on local tastes. The curry that you would get in a Chinese restaurant is different from the curry that you would get in a British curry house. Similarly, despite their similarities, there …
Goji berries have become popular in the West because of their reputed potential for increasing health and longevity. While there is still not a lot of hard scientific evidence regarding their benefits, goji berries may be useful for the prevention or treatment of numerous serious diseases. If you would like …