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Most meals are tastier with added herbs or spices.

Herbs and Spices - Culinary Herbs and Spices 1

Herbs and spices can turn simple meals into something special. This quiz explores how to grow, harvest, and store culinary herbs, plus easy ways to keep flavours fresh.

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Fascinating Fact:

Drying herbs concentrates their flavour, but some herbs keep their taste better when frozen. Soft herbs, like parsley, often freeze well.

Culinary herbs and spices come from different parts of plants, such as leaves, seeds, bark, roots, or fruit. Many common herbs, including basil, mint, chives, and thyme, can be grown in pots or borders as long as they get the right light and drainage. Explainable growing success often comes down to matching the plant to its preferred conditions, because some herbs like moist soil while others dislike “wet feet” and need free-draining compost. Harvesting little and often encourages fresh new growth, and cutting above a leaf joint helps the plant branch out. Herbs can be used straight away, but careful storage matters too, because heat, air, and light can reduce flavour over time. Keeping plants healthy by watering at the base, removing dead leaves, and watching for pests can make harvests bigger and reduce waste.

Key Terms

Culinary herb: An edible plant leaf used to add flavour to food, often used fresh or dried.
Pinching out: Removing the growing tip to encourage a plant to grow bushier and produce more leaves.
Free-draining: Soil or compost that lets water pass through easily, reducing the risk of waterlogged roots.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the difference between herbs and spices in cooking?

Herbs usually come from the fresh or dried leaves of a plant, like basil or thyme. Spices usually come from seeds, bark, roots, or fruit, like cumin, cinnamon, or ginger.

How do you stop herbs going limp after picking them?

Pick herbs when they are dry, then store them cool and slightly wrapped so they do not lose moisture too fast. For short storage, trimming stems and placing them in water can keep some herbs fresher.

Can you grow herbs indoors on a windowsill?

Yes, many herbs grow well indoors if they get plenty of light and are not overwatered. Use pots with drainage holes and water when the top of the compost feels dry.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of Christian Bauer

Lovage

Oregano

Parsley

Chervil

Latin Name: Origanum vulgare
The plant is sometimes called wild marjoram but note that this is NOT the same plant as sweet marjoram!
Any flower heads that appear should be removed and the stems should be cut back frequently to encourage new growth.
You should use artificial fertilizers sparingly for fear of tainting the delicately flavoured leaves.

2 .

What is this culinary spice?

Photograph courtesy of Daniel Risacher

Parsley

Oregano

Chili pepper

Mint

Latin Name: Capsicum spp.
In the UK it is typically grown in a greenhouse.
Can be used fresh or dried.
There is an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the hottest variety!
Plants are usually grown for the berries but also the leaves can be eaten.
So pungent that it is sometimes hung on fences in Africa to keep elephants away from crops.

3 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of flagstaffotos

Lovage

Parsley

Sorrel

Chervil

Latin Name: Petroselinum crispum.
Believed to be the most popular herb in the world.
Used for both flavouring and decoration.
Accredited with numerous health giving properties but most are difficult to scientifically substantiate.
Frequently chopped and mixed with garlic. It is said that eating the two together ensures that the smell of garlic does not linger on the breath.

4 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of www.geograph.org.uk/profile/6699

Sorrel

Lovage

Chili pepper

Woodruff

Latin Name: Rumex acetosa.
Sometimes known as narrow-leaved dock or spinach dock.
Its lemon-like flavour goes well with fish dishes.
The leaves taste best in early spring - as the summer progresses they become increasingly bitter.
Widely believed to have medicinal properties but it should be avoided by people with arthritis because its oxalic acid content can aggravate the condition.

5 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/verzo/

Oregano

Horseradish

Chives

Mint

Latin Name: Mentha Spicata.
Leaves can be used whole, chopped, dried or frozen.
Frequently used for flavouring confectionary, tea and toothpaste.
To get the most flavour from the leaves the plant should be growing quickly - constantly moist at the roots but in full sun.
Can be very invasive so best grown in a container.

6 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of Pethan

Mint

Woodruff

Chives

Horseradish

Latin Name: Armoracia rusticana.
Grows up to 1.5 metres tall.
Mainly grown for its large white roots with which to make a strong sauce that is often served with roast beef.
Sometimes used in the mixing of Bloody Mary cocktails.
The roots should be grated and used immediately.
Avoid contact with the eyes because it can be irritating.

7 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of Rasbak

Chives

Mint

Chervil

Horseradish

Latin Name: Anthriscus cerefolium.
Sometimes referred to as gourmet's parsley because its flavour is reckoned to be more delicate than parsley.
Used to flavour poultry, fish and vegetables in the UK and in France it is also used in the preparation of omelettes and salads.
It is most often grown from seed in containers where a succession of sowings will ensure a continuous supply of fresh young leaves.

8 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of Captain-tucker

Chives

Woodruff

Chervil

Sorrel

Latin Name: Allium schoenoprasum.
As can be seen from the photograph this is a highly decorative addition to any herb garden.
The smallest type of edible onion.
Leaves are shredded and used to flavour fish and soups.
Insects dislike the plant and it is sometimes grown as a repellent.

9 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of Jopi

Sorrel

Chili pepper

Oregano

Woodruff

Latin Name: Galium odoratum.
Sometimes called baby's breath or kiss me quick.
The leaves have a sweet scent that intensifies as they are dried and for this reason they are often used in pot pourri.
Sometimes used as an ingredient in summer punch.
Grows well in shady places but it can become invasive in much the same way as mint.

10 .

What is this culinary herb?

Photograph courtesy of Raffi Kojian

Lovage

Chili pepper

Parsley

Woodruff

Latin Name: Levisticum officinale.
Gets its name from the fact that it is said to be an aphrodisiac.
Nearly the entire plant can be eaten.
Roots taste strongly of celery.
The leaves are frequently chopped and used for flavouring soups and stews.
When made into a drink it is an aid to digestion.
Seeds can be dried and used as a spice.

Author: Colin King

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