Spice quantity converter
A teaspoon is a volume, not a weight, and the weight depends entirely on the spice. This converter resolves through a density figure recorded for each spice and form, and shows the working so you can check it.
Answer
1.4 grams
Realistically 1.19–1.61 grams, given how much grind and packing vary.
What you asked
- Spice:
- Savory
- Form:
- Ground
- Amount:
- 1 teaspoons
- Convert to:
- grams
- Spoon standard:
- metric (1 tsp = 5 ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml, 1 cup = 250 ml)
How it was worked out
Volume and mass are converted through a density figure specific to savory in ground form. Standard household-measure gram weight for one level teaspoon published by USDA FoodData Central, recorded with a ±15% tolerance to reflect grind, packing and moisture variation. Not a measurement of any specific product.
1. Convert the input to millilitres
1 × 5 ml
= 5 ml
2. Look up the density of savory (ground)
1.4 ± 0.21 g per level metric teaspoon (5 ml)
= 0.28 g/ml
This figure is specific to this spice and form. It is not transferable to another spice.
3. Convert volume to grams
5 ml × 0.28 g/ml
= 1.4 g
4. Convert grams to the target unit
1.4 ÷ 1
= 1.4 g
What this assumes
- Spoons are level, not heaped, and packed level spoon.
- The density figure was recorded against a metric teaspoon of 5 ml.
- Your input volumes are interpreted using the metric (1 tsp = 5 ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml, 1 cup = 250 ml) standard.
Where this stops being reliable
- Grind coarseness changes packing density; a coarse grind weighs less per spoon than a fine one.
- A heaped spoon can weigh 40–50% more than a level one. These figures assume level.
- Moisture content rises in humid storage and increases mass without adding flavour.
- Brand and origin vary; where precision matters, weigh rather than measure by volume.
Evidence
Why a single teaspoon-to-gram figure does not work
The same level teaspoon, across the spices we hold data for.
| Spice | Form | Grams per level tsp |
|---|---|---|
| Salt | ground | 6 ± 0.9 g |
| Fenugreek | whole | 3.7 ± 0.56 g |
| Garlic | powder | 3.1 ± 0.46 g |
| Turmeric | ground | 3 ± 0.45 g |
| Black pepper | whole | 2.9 ± 0.43 g |
| Poppy seed | whole | 2.8 ± 0.42 g |
| Cassia | ground | 2.6 ± 0.39 g |
| Cinnamon (Ceylon) | ground | 2.6 ± 0.39 g |
| Onion | powder | 2.4 ± 0.36 g |
| Vanilla | ground | 2.4 ± 0.36 g |
| White pepper | ground | 2.4 ± 0.36 g |
| Black pepper | ground | 2.3 ± 0.34 g |
| Paprika | ground | 2.3 ± 0.34 g |
| Nutmeg | ground | 2.2 ± 0.33 g |
| Aniseed | whole | 2.1 ± 0.32 g |
| Caraway | whole | 2.1 ± 0.32 g |
| Cloves | ground | 2.1 ± 0.32 g |
| Cumin | ground | 2.1 ± 0.32 g |
| Cumin | whole | 2.1 ± 0.32 g |
| Dill seed | whole | 2.1 ± 0.32 g |
| Green cardamom | ground | 2 ± 0.3 g |
| Celery seed | whole | 2 ± 0.3 g |
| Fennel seed | whole | 2 ± 0.3 g |
| Mustard seed | ground | 2 ± 0.3 g |
| Allspice | ground | 1.9 ± 0.28 g |
| Cayenne pepper | ground | 1.8 ± 0.27 g |
| Coriander seed | ground | 1.8 ± 0.27 g |
| Ginger | ground | 1.8 ± 0.27 g |
| Oregano | ground | 1.8 ± 0.27 g |
| Mace | ground | 1.7 ± 0.26 g |
| Tarragon | ground | 1.6 ± 0.24 g |
| Basil | ground | 1.4 ± 0.21 g |
| Savory | ground | 1.4 ± 0.21 g |
| Thyme | ground | 1.4 ± 0.21 g |
| Rosemary | leaf | 1.2 ± 0.18 g |
| Dill | leaf | 1 ± 0.15 g |
| Oregano | leaf | 1 ± 0.15 g |
| Thyme | leaf | 1 ± 0.15 g |
| Basil | leaf | 0.7 ± 0.1 g |
| Saffron | threads | 0.7 ± 0.1 g |
| Sage | ground | 0.7 ± 0.1 g |
| Bay leaf | ground | 0.6 ± 0.09 g |
| Coriander leaf | leaf | 0.6 ± 0.09 g |
| Chervil | leaf | 0.6 ± 0.09 g |
| Tarragon | leaf | 0.6 ± 0.09 g |
| Marjoram | leaf | 0.6 ± 0.09 g |
| Mint | leaf | 0.5 ± 0.07 g |
| Parsley | leaf | 0.5 ± 0.07 g |
The heaviest is more than four times the lightest. A converter that applies one figure to all spices is not approximating — it is simply wrong for most of them.
Spices we cannot convert yet
Listed rather than quietly filled in with an average.
Ajwain, Aleppo pepper, Amchoor, Anardana, Ancho, Annatto, Chile de árbol, Asafoetida, Barberry, Bird's eye chilli, Black cardamom, Black cumin, Black salt, Blue fenugreek, Calabrian chilli, Carolina Reaper, Cascabel, Chilli flakes, Chilli powder, Chipotle, Culantro, Curry leaf, Dagad phool, Dried lime, Epazote, Piment d'Espelette, Fenugreek leaf, Filé powder, Galangal, Chives, Ghost pepper, Gochugaru, Grains of paradise, Grains of Selim, Green peppercorn, Guajillo, Habanero, Hoja santa, Horseradish, Jalapeño, Juniper, Makrut lime leaf, Kashmiri chilli, Kokum, Korarima, Lavender, Lemongrass, Liquorice root, Long pepper, Lovage, Mahleb, Marigold, Mastic, Mexican oregano, MSG, Mulato, Nigella, Pandan, Pasilla, Pink peppercorn, Poblano, Dried rose, Safflower, Ají amarillo, Rocoto, Huacatay, Daun salam, Avocado leaf, Uziza, Calabash nutmeg, Kencur, Smoked paprika, Dried orange peel, Cubeb, Tsaoko, Fingerroot, Wattleseed, Sansho, Scotch bonnet, Serrano, Shiso, Sichuan pepper, Star anise, Sumac, Tamarind, Tonka bean, Urfa biber, Wasabi, Za'atar herb. For these, weigh the spice rather than measuring by spoon. Obtaining sourced figures is on the roadmap; inventing them is not.
Questions this page answers
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