Pure almond extract is made from alcohol, water, and bitter almond oil, which is extracted from bitter almonds. more

An aromatic plant and fragrant herb, basil is available in numerous varieties, all of which have their own flavor and intensity. Leaves are used whole, chopped, or dried and ground. Most culinary basi... more

The chive is a fragrant, delicate herb related to garlic, onions, and leeks. Chives have long, slender shoots that are hollow on the inside. They have a mild onion flavor. Select firm chives without a... more

Depending on where you live, you might know this leafy green herb as either cilantro or coriander. Technically, cilantro describes the first stage of the plant's life cycle. Once it flowers and develo... more

Dill is an aromatic herb with soft, feathery, green leaves. Its leaves are referred to as dill weed while its tan, flat seed is known as dill seed. Dill weed has a milder flavor than dill seed, which ... more

Lemongrass is a tropical variety of grass with a sweet, lemony scent used to impart a lemony flavor to dishes. Its stalk appears woody, and it has a bulbous end that contains the heart, the tenderest,... more

Marjoram is an herb that has a taste and scent similar to that of oregano although it is considered sweeter and milder. It can be used fresh, dried, or ground. more

Mint is a cool, refreshing, aromatic herb. There are many varieties of mint including peppermint and spearmint, which are most common. Mint is available fresh, dried, or as an extract. When purchasing... more

Parsley is an aromatic green-leafed herb used as a seasoning or as a garnish. Many varieties of parsley exist with curly and flat-leaf varieties most popular. Curly leaf parsley has a mild flavor and ... more

Rosemary is a fragrant herb that resembles pine needles but which in fact are actually leaves of the rosemary plant, an evergreen shrub. Rosemary can be purchased fresh or dried and may be ground, cho... more

Sage is an aromatic herb with a sharp, slightly bitter taste and pungent aroma. There are many varieties of sage the most common of which has long, grayish green leaves that appear somewhat fuzzy. Sag... more

Savory is an aromatic herb related to the mint family. It has a strong, spicy, peppery flavor. There are two common types, summer savory and winter savory. Summer savory is more mild in taste than win... more

Thyme is a versatile, aromatic herb. There are numerous varieties of thyme including the common varieties English thyme, French thyme, and lemon-scented thyme. Thyme is available fresh or dried (as le... more

Allspice is the dried, unripe berry of an evergreen tree in the myrtle family. Its taste and smell is reminiscent of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The berries are the size of large peppercorns. Approxi... more

A member or the carrot and parsley family, anise is a feathery plant. Its seed is a spice with a distinct licorice flavor that can be used either ground or whole. more

Asafoetida, or hing, comes from the tap root sap of the Asafoetida plant, a plant of the giant fennel family. It is an extremely pungent spice commonly used in Indian cooking. When cooked, its strong ... more

Cardamom is an intensely aromatic spice with a spicy-sweet and complex flavor. Cardamom seeds are encapsulated in small pods that may be green, black, or white. Green cardamom is considered the finest... more

Celery salt is a mixture of fine-grained salt and ground celery seed. more

Cinnamon is a fragrant, warm, and distinctly flavored spice that also happens to be the inner bark of a tropical tree. Actually, the spice sold as cinnamon refers to the bark of two different species ... more

Cloves are dried flower buds that impart a pungent, sweet flavor to dishes. They have a strong flavor and should be used in moderation. more

Ginger is a tuberous rhizome (underground stem) with a knobby appearance, beige skin, and yellow flesh. Its flavor is peppery, and its aroma is pungent and spicy. Select fresh ginger that is firm, plu... more

Ground ginger is the powdered form of peeled, dried ginger root. It is yellow in color and should have a pungent, spicy aroma to indicate freshness. It is popular in Europe and the United States and i... more

Horseradish is a root in the mustard family that has a very hot, peppery flavor. The root has brown colored skin and firm, white colored flesh. It resembles a parsnip. Horseradish is traditionally mad... more

Mace is the lacy outer membrane, or aril, covering nutmeg. Its flavor is lighter, subtler, and sweeter than nutmeg. Mace is often sold as blades or as a powder. more

Nutmeg is the hard, brownish colored seed of the nutmeg tree. It is approximately one inch long. Nutmeg has a warm and spicy flavor and can be purchased whole or ground. more

Oregano is a pungent green herb closely related to marjoram. It has a strong, pungent flavor and aroma and is less sweet than marjoram. Oregano is availble fresh, dried or ground. When purchasing fres... more

Saffron is a flavorful and fragrant spice available in thread or powder form. more

Turmeric is a yellow spice derived from the turmeric plant. It is popular in South Asian cuisine. When added to dishes, it often colors the meal yellow. Some research suggests that curcumin, a substan... more