Spices

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a widely used spice derived from the berries of the pepper plant. Native to India, black pepper has been used in cooking for centuries and is now cultivated in various tropical regions worldwide. The black pepper plant is a climbing vine that produces small, round berries known as peppercorns. These berries are harvested at different stages of maturity to produce various types of pepper, including black, white, and green. Black pepper is renowned for its pungent and slightly spicy flavour. The compound responsible for its spiciness is called piperine.

Black raisins are dried, dark-coloured grapes that have undergone a drying process to remove most of their water content. Black raisins are typically made from dark-coloured grape varieties, such as Black Corinth or Dark Seedless grapes. The drying process concentrates their natural sugars, resulting in a sweet and flavourful dried fruit.

Caraway seeds come from the caraway plant (Carum carvi), which is a biennial herb belonging to the Apiaceae family. Caraway seeds have a warm, earthy, and slightly sweet flavour with a hint of citrus and anise. Widely used as a spice in cooking, caraway seeds are popular in European cuisines, particularly in Central and Eastern European dishes. They add depth to bread, sausages, stews, soups, and pickled vegetables. Caraway is a key ingredient in classic recipes like rye bread and caraway cabbage.

Cardamom is a highly aromatic spice derived from the seeds of plants belonging to the genera Elettaria and Amomum. Cardamom has a complex flavour profile that includes citrus, mint, and herbal notes. It adds depth and warmth to dishes. Cardamom is a versatile spice used in a variety of culinary applications. It is a key ingredient in many spice blends, such as garam masala, and is commonly used in desserts, beverages (like chai tea), curries, and rice dishes.

Cloves are aromatic flower buds derived from the Syzygium aromaticum tree, native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia.Cloves have a strong, warm, and sweet flavor with a hint of bitterness. They are one of the most aromatic spices.Cloves are small, dark brown, and nail-shaped buds. They are often used whole or ground in culinary applications.

Cubebs, also known as Java pepper or tailed pepper, are the dried berries of the plant Piper cubeba. Cubebs come from the Piper cubeba plant, a climbing vine native to Java and other parts of Southeast Asia. Cubebs are small, dark brown berries with a distinctive “tail” or stem attached, resembling a tiny spiked ball. Cubebs have a unique flavour that is peppery, pungent, and slightly bitter. They are often described as having a more complex taste than regular black pepper.

Dry dates are simply dates that have undergone a drying process to remove most of their water content. Dry dates are dried varieties of dates, which are the fruit of the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera). Dates are typically dried naturally in the sun or through mechanical drying methods, resulting in a reduced moisture content. Dry dates are wrinkled, darker in colour, and have a chewy texture compared to fresh dates. They are often smaller in size than their fresh counterparts.

Dry ginger, also known as dried ginger or ginger powder, is derived from the rhizome of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale). Dry ginger is made by drying and powdering fresh ginger rhizomes, which are the underground stems of the ginger plant. Dry ginger has a warm, spicy, and slightly sweet flavour, similar to fresh ginger but more concentrated.