Let’s talk about spices. Life and food would be bland without them, right. So the other day I got to think what I wouldn’t want to miss and which ones I can easily do without. Here are my top 5 bottom 5 when it comes to spices.
My top spices
Cinnamon
I mean seriously, do we need to discuss this one? I put it on all my porridges. I need it for almost all baking. I even dump a generous amount into my coffee. And of course some spicy cider. When it comes to sweet things cinnamon is a must. I have rarely cooked with it though.
Salt & Pepper
I love a good heap of salt. I tend to eat very salt food. Is it healthy. No. Is it yummy. Hell yes.
as for pepper I need it in small dosage. Too much. Not a fan but if it is missing at a tomato salad. Half the fun.
Rosemary
I like the piny taste rosemary has. I happily eat a whole batch of oven baked potatoes coated in olive oil and rosemary. Or give a piece of lamb just seasoned with rosemary. It is also wonderful for tea. If you make a blend of peppermint, rosemary and a bit of lemon it’s actually pretty good for headaches and migraines. It’s a blend that helps me at least. I have one bush on my terrace and love touch its woody leaves and smell it. And the blossoms are also pretty.
Thyme
Close and yet not identically is thyme. Also an herb that lives on my terrace garden. It is actually the first herb I ever gathered. When I as a kid we usually did hiking vacations. And we would often come across thyme on the hills. We always gathered it in a little bundle that would hang from a backpack until at night we would dump it in water and drink. Love it. So it’s a staple in my pantry not only for cooking but also for drinking.
Nutmeg
A spice that can be used for baking and cooking. What’s not to love. And I also add it to my coffee at times. I often use it in soups. And for Christmas cookies it’s a staple with cinnamon.
There are few spices that didn’t make the top 5. Like Basil or ginger because I was focusing on dried spices and I love fresh basil same as parsley and chives. I wouldn’t really buy them dried though. I use plenty of fresh ginger too. As for Oregano it’s a staple in our kitchen we go through it most but I am partial to having it in my food. The husband loves it. So much so that I have grown it on the terrace this year. I like it fresh more.
My bottom five spices
All the spices below I do eat if necessary. But they are at the bottom of the list.
Tamarind
Worst spice in the whole wide world. When I was on the Dominican Republic for the first time we went to a Jimmy Chimmichurri place and the had a whole load of homemade lemonades and drinks. I had never heard of tamarind and all explanations didn’t help me. So I ordered. I am a curios person so why not. But I was drinking mud. I mean seriously. It’s ground up bark. Disgusting as hell. Never again.
Anis
I only tolerate anis in my Christmas cookies. But I prefer the spice not to be dominant. The other place I tolerate actually love it is the decoration on my parents Christmas tree. We have little star garlands of Anis and the add a bit of scent too.
Caraway (Kümmel)
Argh… is there anyone who loves this? I admit I bought it once for a soup and it was a good addition. It was a cabbage soup. And I only added a fraction from what recipe said. But in cheese. Yuk. In bread. Double Yuk.
Lovage (Liebstöckel)
I don’t think I have ever bought this. I didn’t grow up with this spice so it’s very foreign to me. I do’t like the taste of Maggi sauce and apparently it just that. Pass for me.
Curcuma
A few week or months ago this would have been a lower bottom five but curcuma is slightly moving up. Still don’t like the taste at all but if I add it to porridge its okays. I ate a bit more of it lately in order to battle anther flue. I once made curcuma shots and it was drinkable but not by much. So I cab eat it for health benefits but I would never order a golden milk or something.
Your turn: Favorite spice? Worst spice. Any spice on my list you have never tasted? Who is a fan of tamarind? Do you grow anything?
