SPICEography 
The word curry comes from the Tamil word kari, which means spiced sauce. It refers to dishes with a spicy gravy, which are common in Southern Indian cuisine. Curry powders are helpful for Non-Indian cooks who may not have a lot of experience working with Indian spices. They provide the …
Coconut flour is best known as a grain-free, gluten-free flour. As a result of these characteristics, and because it is fiber-rich, it can be beneficial for digestive and cardiovascular health. All its benefits aside, it has some properties that can make it difficult for inexperienced bakers to use. Follow the …
Demarara sugar is popular with bakers because of its crunchy texture, which makes it a great topping for desserts. As a lightly processed brown sugar, it has many other uses; however, you may have a hard time finding it in the United States. When you do find it, it may …
Long pepper and black pepper are close relatives; both belong to the Piperaceae family. As relatives, it makes sense that they would have a lot in common and they do; however, they also have some major differences. You will need to know what makes each spice unique when you are …
Lemon balm and lemon verbena are two lemon-scented culinary herbs that have been used all over the world for centuries. However, they are not among the most well-known or widely used herbs in the West. If you are trying to choose between them, it is important that you understand and …
Pink Himalayan salt and Celtic sea salt both serve the same basic purpose as seasonings, but they also have different properties and qualities. They come from different parts of the world and will each bring different things to your food. Let’s compare these two salts to help you make the …
Smoked sea salt is sea salt with the added flavor of smoke from hickory or other aromatic hardwoods. It allows you to get the smoke flavor at the same time that you salt your food. If you can’t find smoked sea salt in your grocery store’s spice aisle and don’t …
Lavender belongs to the mint family, along with other popular herbs like oregano, thyme, and basil. Like those herbs, it has been used in culinary preparations for centuries. It is a common ingredient in both sweet and savory preparations. The herb shows up at the forefront of the seasonings in …