SPICEography 
Mirin is a Japanese rice wine that is best known for its use as a cooking wine rather than one for drinking. Its sweetness is one of the characteristics that make it such a versatile addition to your pantry (particularly for Japanese cooking), but you will need to keep a …
Coconut aminos and liquid aminos will be two of your best options if you are looking for healthy soy sauce substitutes. Both can provide the deep brown color, saltiness, and savory umami flavor that you would get from soy sauce without some of its less desirable characteristics. For example, both …
Tahini gets its name from the Arab word for “grind” and refers to the fact that it consists of ground sesame seeds. It is a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine. And it’s also one of the main ingredients in hummus and the candy called halvah. Tahini is versatile and …
Considered sacred in India, holy basil (a.k.a. holy tulsi) is used heavily in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. It offers an intense aroma that is like that of cloves, along with a mild peppery bite and subtle licorice notes. The herb is best known for its use in drunken stir-fry dishes …
Cloves have a warm, sweet, and easily identifiable flavor that you can use in both sweet and savory preparations. You may know it from the role it plays in chai masala, garam masala, and in Chinese five-spice powder. It is commonly used, but that doesn’t mean that it is easy …
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region and is a staple of French cooking. English lavender is the variety most commonly used as a culinary herb. Its floral sweetness and citrus notes can complement a wide range of foods, ranging from roasted chicken to ice cream. While popular in many …
Spices are arguably the most important part of Indian food. One of the common mixtures that you will come across when looking at Indian recipes is garam masala. There are numerous variations depending on region and even depending on the household. These days you can find garam masala blends in …
Poppy seeds are visually striking and can offer a nutty flavor along with a crunchy texture to enhance all sorts of dishes, from curries and stir-fries to lemon poppy seed muffins and bagels. They are especially common ingredient in both European and Indian recipes. If you are out of poppy …