SPICEography 
Chipotle powder is made from dried, smoked jalapeños and lends its unique spiciness and smokiness to a number of Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. If a recipe from those cultures requires chipotle powder, you will need it or a suitable alternative to get an authentic-tasting dish. Omitting it is not an …
Paprika is a fundamental spice and one that you should have in your spice cabinet even if you are just a casual cook. It is right up there with black pepper and salt. Not only does paprika offer a deep and distinctive flavor, it adds a bright color and major …
Dukkah is a traditional Egyptian spice blend that has been widely used across the Middle East since the age of ancient Egypt. The name can be spelled dukkah, dukkha or even duqqa; translated from the Arabic, it means “to pound.” Traditionally, the herbs, spices and nuts used to make dukkah …
Grains of paradise seeds made their way to the west via caravan routes across the Sahara. These seeds were once a popular spice in Europe, and Elizabeth I was known to be particularly fond of them. They are not as well known in the west these days. Once used as …
Elder is the tree that produces both the elderflower and the elderberry. It has been in use since the Stone Age. Hippocrates and Dioscorides wrote about it, and so did Pliny. According to the superstitions of 17th century England, elder trees were able to ward off evil. In addition, a …
Carom seeds (also known as ajwain) are believed to have originated in the Seychelles, Asia Minor or in Persia. Beyond the three possible locations of the spice’s origin, there is little known or speculated about its history. It is believed that it grew wild in ancient Egypt and was a …
The first paprika was produced in Spain from peppers that Christopher Columbus brought back to Europe with him. The Hieronymites monks at the behest of Charles V cultivated those peppers, which is how they found their way to the La Vera region of Spain. Local farmers also began growing the …
Paprika is a spice that consists of dried and ground chili peppers that originate in central Mexico. The name “paprika” is Hungarian and its root is in the Greek peperi and in the Latin piper both of which refer to pepper. The peppers used to make paprika made their way …