SPICEography 
Choosing the right salt for a particular dish can be challenging, especially since there are so many different types on the market. For example, Himalayan salt is a popular option, but does it offer anything that you would not get from regular table salt? Is it all that different, outside …
Vanilla powder and vanilla paste are two great ways to add vanilla flavor to dishes. What’s more, neither of them contains alcohol, so neither will give the alcoholic aftertaste that can come with vanilla extract. How do these two forms of vanilla compare to each other? How should you use …
Cassia buds are not as commonly used as other parts of the cassia tree, but they are still useful for providing a novel twist on the cinnamon flavor. However, that cassia buds are not a well-known spice means that you may have a hard time hunting them down. If you …
Winter spices play a crucial role in adding warmth and depth to our favorite dishes during the cold months. The aroma and flavor of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, cardamom, ginger, and black pepper can transform ordinary recipes into comforting winter delights. Discover the magic of these must-have spices …
Epazote is a Mexican herb with a long history of use by both Aztecs and Mayans. In both food cultures, it was primarily a medicinal herb. Today, you may see it as one of the ingredients in some Mexican recipes; in particular, recipes from Yucatan. It is rarely used outside …
In recent years, coconut sugar has been promoted as a healthier sweetening option when compared to cane sugar. Is this true? Will both of these sugars work equally well in most or all applications? Let’s compare the two to help you make the best decisions for your cooking. How does …
Nigella seeds show up in many Indian recipes, especially those from the northern Indian states of Punjab and Bengal. The spice is available from online merchants and Indian grocery stores, but if neither of these is an option or if you don’t like the taste of nigella seeds, consider an …
At one point in history, black pepper was held in such high esteem it was more expensive than gold. The price was mostly to do with its rarity, as the places where it was grown were difficult to get to from Europe. In fact, the search for what is sometimes …