What it is: You’ve probably seen chili peppers before in your food - they come in many different shapes and sizes, and are usually either green or red. There are many derivatives of chilies that are used in foods, such as chili powder, chili flakes and chili pastes, to

What it is: Like ginger, turmeric also comes from the stem of a plant - in this case, the Curcuma longa. It is also used in both fresh and dried forms, though the dried form is easier to find in stores. Turmeric is known for its vibrant yellow color. It

What it is: Ginger comes from the stem of the plant Zingiber officinale. A lot of recipes make use of fresh ginger, but dried and ground ginger also make great additions to many recipes. Its taste is described as spicy and sharp. Health benefits: * Can reduce nausea and vomiting -

What it is: I know what you’re thinking - coriander isn’t a spice, it’s a herb! But hear me out; coriander seeds are used whole or in ground form as spices. Its taste has been described as earthy and sweet. Health benefits: * Can alleviate symptoms of Irritable

What it is: This spice comes from the inner bark of the tropical Cinnamomum Verum tree, which is usually just called by its much easier name cinnamon tree. Cinnamon is sold as rolled sticks or as fine powder. There are four types of cinnamon, including cassia cinnamon and ceylon cinnamon.

What it is: Cardamom is called the ‘queen of spices’. It has a very distinct appearance that is described as ‘trigonal pod husks with small black seeds’. These pods can be green or black, but the green ones are called ‘true’ cardamoms. The flavor of cardamom is complex (pretty unhelpful

Gastronomy is defined as the practice or art of eating, choosing, and cooking good food. Ultimately it is the study of food and culture. The word itself is derived from the Greek gastronomia, an alteration of the original gastrologie; gastro- meaning relating to the stomach and -logy, denoting a subject