Spices

Spices are used to enhance the flavour and colour of both sweet and savoury dishes. They are obtained from the bark, seeds, buds, fruit, stems or roots of a plant unlike herbs which are taken from the leafy part of the plant. Whilst herbs are usually used fresh if at all possible, spices are always dried.

Ground spices soon lose their distinctive flavour and aroma, and so it is always best to buy them whole and grind them as and when they are needed, rather than buying them in powdered form.

In this section, you'll find a handy guide to a wide range of spices that may be used in the kitchen, along with some useful tips on how they may be used.