what is a spice
Spices and herbs at a grocery shop in Goa, India. A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, berry, bud or vegetable substance primarily used for flavoring, coloring or preserving food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are parts of leafy green plants used for flavoring or as a garnish.Many spices have antimicrobial properties.mall seeds, such as fennel and mustard seeds, are often used both whole and in powder form. The flavor of a spice is derived in part from compounds (volatile oils) that oxidize or evaporate when exposed to air.