Like friends, some seasonings mingle well, while others are best enjoyed separately. Before you can become confident in the use of herbs and spices, it is helpful to understand just what is a spice, what is an herb, and how they can affect a food's flavor. While the term spice is often used broadly to include all seasonings, a true spice comes from the bark, roots, leaves, stems, buds and seeds, or fruit of aromatic plants and trees which usually grow in tropical countries. Examples of spices include black pepper, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, ginger, saffron, and turmeric. Herbs, on the other hand, are soft, succulent plants whose leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds are used as seasonings.
Herbs usually grow in the temperate zone and include oregano, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary.
While herbs add distinctive flavors to meat, vegetables, and salad, spices enhance the sweet taste of foods. Spices and herbs used for cooking contain a chemical substance called terpenese, commonly known as essential oils. These essential oils are what provide the characteristic smell or taste of herbs and spices. Without them, herbs would be no tastier than grass clippings. Selection Herbs can be purchased either fresh or dried.