SpiceHQSearch

Spice explorer

Every spice SpiceHQ profiles, filtered by the things that actually distinguish them: which part of the plant it is, what family the plant belongs to, which cuisines use it, what it tastes of, what kind of heat it has, which compounds carry its flavour and which blends it goes into. Seed spices from the carrot family, bark spices, spices that numb rather than burn — combine the filters and the list narrows.

Filter the catalogue

Each choice narrows the list; the number beside an option is how many spices it would leave, given the other choices.

Spices

All 198 spices in the catalogue.

  • Ají amarillo

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, apricot, floral

  • Ají dulce

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, floral, sweet

  • Ají panca

    Solanaceae · fruit · berry, smoky, sweet

  • Ajwain

    Apiaceae · seed · herbal, bitter, pungent

  • Aleppo pepper

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, sweet, earthy

  • Allspice

    Myrtaceae · berry, fruit · warm, sweet, clove-like

  • Amchoor

    Anacardiaceae · fruit · sour, fruity, earthy

  • Anardana

    Lythraceae · seed, fruit · sour, fruity, faintly sweet

  • Ancho

    Solanaceae · fruit · raisin, prune, sweet

  • Andaliman

    Rutaceae · fruit, seed · citric, lime-like, numbing

  • Anise myrtle

    Myrtaceae · leaf · aniseed, liquorice, sweet

  • Aniseed

    Apiaceae · seed · sweet, liquorice, warm

  • Annatto

    Bixaceae · seed · earthy, peppery, woody

  • Asafoetida

    Apiaceae · resin, root · pungent, earthy, bitter

  • Asam gelugur

    Clusiaceae · fruit · sour

  • Avocado leaf

    Lauraceae · leaf · anise, toasted, nutty

  • Barberry

    Berberidaceae · fruit · sour, fruity, winey

  • Basil

    Lamiaceae · leaf · sweet, clove-like, peppery

  • Bay leaf

    Lauraceae · leaf · resinous, camphorous, herbal

  • Besobela

    Lamiaceae · flower, leaf · sweet, resinous, clove-like

  • Bird's eye chilli

    Solanaceae · fruit · sharp, grassy, very hot

  • Black cardamom

    Zingiberaceae · pod, seed · smoky, woody, earthy

  • Black cumin

    Apiaceae · seed · smoky, earthy, sweet

  • Black pepper

    Piperaceae · fruit, berry · pungent, woody, citrus

  • Black salt

    salty, sulphurous, savoury

  • Blue fenugreek

    Fabaceae · leaf, seed, pod · sweet, nutty, hay-like

  • Bois d'Inde

    Myrtaceae · leaf, berry · clove, allspice, warm

  • Calabash nutmeg

    Annonaceae · seed · warm, resinous, faintly bitter

  • Calabrian chilli

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, hot, sweet

  • Candlenut

    Euphorbiaceae · seed · nutty, rich, waxy

  • Caraway

    Apiaceae · seed · sharp, anise, woody

  • Carolina Reaper

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, floral, extremely hot

  • Cascabel

    Solanaceae · fruit · nutty, woody, smoky

  • Cassia

    Lauraceae · bark · strong, sweet-hot, astringent

  • Cayenne pepper

    Solanaceae · fruit · hot, sharp, clean

  • Celery seed

    Apiaceae · seed · earthy, bitter, herbal

  • Cha phlu

    Piperaceae · leaf, fruit · peppery, pungent, bitter

  • Chervil

    Apiaceae · leaf · delicate anise, green, sweet

  • Chile de árbol

    Solanaceae · fruit · hot, grassy, clean

  • Chilhuacle

    Solanaceae · fruit · dried fruit, tobacco, bitter-sweet

  • Chilli flakes

    Solanaceae · fruit · hot, fruity, dry

  • Chilli powder

    Solanaceae · fruit · hot, fruity, dry

  • Chiltepin

    Solanaceae · fruit · very hot, sharp, brief

  • Chincho

    Asteraceae · leaf · aromatic

  • Chipotle

    Solanaceae · fruit · smoky, sweet, dried fruit

  • Chives

    Amaryllidaceae · leaf, flower · mild onion, green, fresh

  • Cinnamon (Ceylon)

    Lauraceae · bark · sweet, floral, citrus

  • Cloves

    Myrtaceae · flower bud · warm, sweet, medicinal

  • Coriander leaf

    Apiaceae · leaf · citric, green, cooling

  • Coriander seed

    Apiaceae · fruit, seed · citrus, warm, sweet

  • Country onion

    Huaceae · seed, bark · garlic, onion, sulfurous

  • Cubeb

    Piperaceae · berry · bitter, peppery, cooling

  • Culantro

    Apiaceae · leaf · citric, green, resinous

  • Cumin

    Apiaceae · fruit, seed · earthy, warm, musky

  • Curry leaf

    Rutaceae · leaf · citric, resinous, nutty

  • Dagad phool

    Parmeliaceae · earthy, smoky, mineral

  • Daun salam

    Myrtaceae · leaf · tea-like, mild, astringent

  • Dawadawa

    Fabaceae · seed · savoury, pungent, ammoniacal

  • Dill

    Apiaceae · leaf · grassy, cooling, faintly aniseed

  • Dill seed

    Apiaceae · seed, leaf · sharp, warm, faintly bitter

  • Douchi

    Fabaceae · seed · savoury, salty, smoky

  • Dried lime

    Rutaceae · fruit · sour, earthy, bitter

  • Dried orange peel

    Rutaceae · fruit · bitter, citrus, marmalade

  • Dried rose

    Rosaceae · flower · floral, honeyed, perfumed

  • Epazote

    Amaranthaceae · leaf · resinous, camphorous, medicinal

  • Erik ekşisi

    Rosaceae · fruit · sour, fruity

  • Fennel seed

    Apiaceae · fruit, seed · sweet, anise, grassy

  • Fenugreek

    Fabaceae · seed, leaf · bitter, maple, savoury

  • Fenugreek leaf

    Fabaceae · leaf · maple, celery-like, savoury

  • Filé powder

    Lauraceae · leaf · woodsy, green, faintly medicinal

  • Fingerroot

    Zingiberaceae · rhizome, root · peppery, bitter, earthy

  • Fish mint

    Saururaceae · leaf, rhizome, stem · fishy, soapy, green

  • Galangal

    Zingiberaceae · rhizome · sharp, woody, citrus

  • Gambian tea bush

    Verbenaceae · leaf, flower · aromatic, minty

  • Garlic

    Amaryllidaceae · bulb · pungent, sulphurous, sweet when cooked

  • Garlic mustard

    Brassicaceae · leaf, seed · mustardy, peppery, garlicky

  • Garlic tree

    Fabaceae · bark, seed, leaf · garlicky, sulphurous

  • Ghost pepper

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, floral, extremely hot

  • Ginger

    Zingiberaceae · rhizome · pungent, citric, warm

  • Gochugaru

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, sweet, smoky

  • Golpar

    Apiaceae · seed · bitter, resinous, green

  • Grains of paradise

    Zingiberaceae · seed · pungent, citrus, floral

  • Grains of Selim

    Annonaceae · fruit, seed · musky, resinous, bitter

  • Green cardamom

    Zingiberaceae · pod, seed · eucalyptus, camphorous, floral

  • Green peppercorn

    Piperaceae · fruit · fresh, herbal, moderately pungent

  • Guajillo

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, tart, tannic

  • Guascas

    Asteraceae · leaf, stem · grassy, artichoke, green

  • Habanero

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, citrus, floral

  • Hoja santa

    Piperaceae · leaf · anise, sassafras, green

  • Horseradish

    Brassicaceae · root · pungent, bitter, earthy

  • Huacatay

    Asteraceae · leaf · pungent, green, anise

  • Ishpingo

    Lauraceae · flower · cinnamon, sweet, balsamic

  • Jakhiya

    Cleomaceae · seed · nutty, toasty, crunchy

  • Jalapeño

    Solanaceae · fruit · green, vegetal, grassy

  • Jambu

    Asteraceae · leaf, flower · tingling, numbing, grassy

  • Jimbu

    Amaryllidaceae · leaf · onion, chive, shallot

  • Juniper

    Cupressaceae · berry, fruit · woody, bitter, citrus

  • Kashmiri chilli

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, astringent, mild

  • Kencur

    Zingiberaceae · rhizome · camphorous, medicinal, balsamic

  • Kokum

    Clusiaceae · fruit · sour, faintly sweet, astringent

  • Korarima

    Zingiberaceae · seed, pod · citric, warm, faintly eucalyptus

  • Koseret

    Verbenaceae · leaf · herbal, floral, resinous

  • Kudampuli

    Clusiaceae · fruit · sour, smoky, astringent

  • Lavender

    Lamiaceae · flower · floral, honeyed, camphorous

  • Lemon myrtle

    Myrtaceae · leaf · lemon, zesty, herbal

  • Lemongrass

    Poaceae · leaf · citrus, grassy, floral

  • Liquorice root

    Fabaceae · root · sweet, earthy, anise-adjacent

  • Litsea berry

    Lauraceae · fruit · lemon, citrus, ginger

  • Long pepper

    Piperaceae · fruit · pungent, sweet, woody

  • Lovage

    Apiaceae · leaf, seed, root, stem · savoury, celery-like, yeasty

  • Mace

    Myristicaceae · aril · warm, delicate, peppery

  • Mahleb

    Rosaceae · seed · nutty, bitter, fruity

  • Makrut lime leaf

    Rutaceae · leaf, fruit · citric, floral, aromatic

  • Makwaen

    Rutaceae · fruit · citrus, resinous, peppery

  • Malagueta pepper

    Solanaceae · fruit · hot, sharp, green

  • Mango ginger

    Zingiberaceae · rhizome · green mango, fresh, resinous

  • Marigold

    Asteraceae · flower · floral, resinous, faintly bitter

  • Marjoram

    Lamiaceae · leaf · sweet, floral, warm

  • Mastic

    Anacardiaceae · resin · piney, resinous, cooling

  • Mexican oregano

    Verbenaceae · leaf · pungent, citric, resinous

  • Mint

    Lamiaceae · leaf · cooling, sweet, green

  • Mitsuba

    Apiaceae · leaf, stem · celery, parsley, green

  • MSG

    savoury, umami, mouth-filling

  • Mulato

    Solanaceae · fruit · sweet, smoky, liquorice

  • Musir

    Amaryllidaceae · bulb · mild garlic, allium, sweet

  • Mustard seed

    Brassicaceae · seed · pungent, sharp, nutty when toasted

  • Myoga

    Zingiberaceae · flower bud, stem · floral, gingery, green

  • Nigella

    Ranunculaceae · seed · peppery, herbal, bitter

  • Njangsa

    Euphorbiaceae · seed · nutty, oily, faintly bitter

  • Nutmeg

    Myristicaceae · seed · sweet, woody, warm

  • Ogiri

    Cucurbitaceae and Euphorbiaceae · seed · savoury, pungent, cheesy

  • Onion

    Amaryllidaceae · bulb · sweet, savoury, sulphurous when raw

  • Oregano

    Lamiaceae · leaf · pungent, resinous, medicinal

  • Pandan

    Pandanaceae · leaf · grassy, rice-like, faintly sweet

  • Pápalo

    Asteraceae · leaf · pungent, green, resinous

  • Paprika

    Solanaceae · fruit · sweet, fruity, red-pepper

  • Parsley

    Apiaceae · leaf · grassy, clean, faintly peppery

  • Pasilla

    Solanaceae · fruit · raisin, cocoa, herbal

  • Pepperfruit

    Annonaceae · fruit, seed · peppery, pungent

  • Piment d'Espelette

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, warm, faintly smoky

  • Pink peppercorn

    Anacardiaceae · berry, fruit · sweet, woody, citrus

  • Poblano

    Solanaceae · fruit · grassy, green, mild

  • Pomegranate molasses

    Lythraceae · fruit · sour, sweet, caramelised

  • Poppy seed

    Papaveraceae · seed · nutty, sweet, earthy

  • Prekese

    Fabaceae · pod · sweet, fruity, caramel

  • Radhuni

    Apiaceae · seed · celery, parsley, herbal

  • Ramsons

    Amaryllidaceae · leaf, bulb · garlicky, green, pungent

  • Rice paddy herb

    Plantaginaceae · leaf, stem · citric, cumin-like, green

  • Rocoto

    Solanaceae · fruit · juicy, fruity, green

  • Roselle

    Malvaceae · flower, leaf, seed · sour, tart

  • Rosemary

    Lamiaceae · leaf · resinous, piney, camphorous

  • Rosita de cacao

    Malvaceae · flower · fenugreek-like, pungent

  • Round cardamom

    Zingiberaceae · pod, seed · eucalyptus, camphor, ginger

  • Rue

    Rutaceae · leaf, fruit · bitter, musky, resinous

  • Safflower

    Asteraceae · flower · earthy, bitter

  • Saffron

    Iridaceae · stigma · honeyed, hay-like, floral

  • Sage

    Lamiaceae · leaf · dusty, camphorous, savoury

  • Saharan cumin

    Apiaceae · fruit · cumin-like, aromatic

  • Salt

    salty, clean, mineral

  • Sansho

    Rutaceae · fruit, leaf · citric, green, tingling

  • Savory

    Lamiaceae · leaf · peppery, warm, resinous

  • Scent leaf

    Lamiaceae · leaf · clove, thyme, peppery

  • Scotch bonnet

    Solanaceae · fruit · fruity, sweet, tropical

  • Serrano

    Solanaceae · fruit · green, grassy, bright

  • Sesame seed

    Pedaliaceae · seed · nutty, roasted, earthy

  • Shiso

    Lamiaceae · leaf, seed · minty, basil-like, citric

  • Shrimp paste

    savoury, salty, pungent

  • Sichuan pepper

    Rutaceae · fruit · citrus, floral, woody

  • Smoked paprika

    Solanaceae · fruit · smoky, sweet, resinous

  • Star anise

    Schisandraceae · fruit · liquorice, sweet, warm

  • Strawberry gum

    Myrtaceae · leaf · strawberry, cinnamon, fruity

  • Sumac

    Anacardiaceae · fruit, berry · sour, fruity, tannic

  • Sweet woodruff

    Rubiaceae · leaf, stem · hay, vanilla, almond

  • Tamarind

    Fabaceae · pod, fruit · sour, sweet, fruity

  • Tarragon

    Asteraceae · leaf · anise, green, sweet

  • Tasmanian pepperberry

    Winteraceae · berry, leaf · peppery, fruity, resinous

  • Tej patta

    Lauraceae · leaf, bark · clove, cinnamon, warm

  • Thua nao

    Fabaceae · seed · savoury, pungent, nutty

  • Thyme

    Lamiaceae · leaf · warm, woody, savoury

  • Timiz

    Piperaceae · fruit · warm, clove-like, piney

  • Timur

    Rutaceae · fruit · citric, floral, numbing

  • Tirphal

    Rutaceae · fruit · woody, citric, resinous

  • Tonka bean

    Fabaceae · seed · sweet, hay-like, almond

  • Torch ginger

    Zingiberaceae · flower bud, fruit · floral, sour, resinous

  • Tosign

    Lamiaceae · leaf · thyme-like, spicy

  • Tsaoko

    Zingiberaceae · pod, seed · smoky, camphorous, bitter

  • Turmeric

    Zingiberaceae · rhizome · earthy, bitter, musky

  • Urfa biber

    Solanaceae · fruit · raisin, smoky, chocolate

  • Uziza

    Piperaceae · berry, leaf · pungent, bitter, herbal

  • Vanilla

    Orchidaceae · pod, fruit · sweet, creamy, floral

  • Verjuice

    Vitaceae · fruit · sour, fruity

  • Vietnamese coriander

    Polygonaceae · leaf · coriander-like, peppery, citric

  • Voatsiperifery

    Piperaceae · berry · woody, citrus, fresh

  • Wasabi

    Brassicaceae · rhizome · pungent, sweet, green

  • Wattleseed

    Fabaceae · seed · roasted, coffee, chocolate

  • White pepper

    Piperaceae · fruit · sharp, pungent, fermented

  • Yuzu

    Rutaceae · fruit · citrus, floral, grapefruit

  • Za'atar herb

    Lamiaceae · leaf · herbal, woody, bitter

What the filters are built from

Each filter reads something every profile states, so a spice appears under a filter only when its own profile says so.

The part of the plant and the botanical family come from each profile’s botany; the kind of plant from the growing notes, which do not yet cover every spice; cuisines and flavour notes from the profile; the kind of heat from the pungency mechanisms on the science page; compounds from the compound pages; and blends from the blends that list the spice as a member. A spice whose profile does not yet state something is not shown as lacking it — it is left out of that filter’s results until it is recorded.