June 28, 2023, 3:31 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Basil, savory, pepper, or curry–all these seasonings are found in our kitchen. But what are they exactly? Herbs or spices? When you want to flavor your food, you season it. So why differentiate between the two terms and not just call them all spices?
The jar of dried basil sits on the spice rack, right next to the caraway and the pepper. Does that automatically make it a spice, or does dried basil still count as an herb? Shouldn’t we then say that we “herb” our dish? There are indeed differences between spices and herbs. myHOMEBOOK explains how they differ.
What Are Spices?
Spices are various parts of a plant, writes the Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE). “Nutmeg, for example, is a seed kernel, but the flower of the plant, mace, is also used as a spice. Cinnamon is botanically a tree bark, juniper is ripe, dried berries, and paprika, fennel, and pepper are actually fruits. Many spices also come from roots, such as ginger or turmeric.”
Also interesting: How to Easily Propagate Basil Yourself
Are Expired Spices Still Edible?
How to Keep Cut Herbs Fresh Longer
What Are Herbs?
Herbs are less diverse. They consist of leaves, flowers, sprouts, or parts thereof, says the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Unlike spices, herbs are preferably used fresh. They are also available in dried form, but many herbs lose their aroma when dried. However, this is not true for all. “Herbs that are slightly woody, such as thyme, oregano, or marjoram, are better suited for drying and thus for storage,” explains the BZfE.
Also interesting: Pepper in the Washing Machine? Expert Advises Against Alleged Lifehack
This Is the Difference Between Herbs and Spices
In everyday life, the terms herbs and spices are used synonymously without much thought. The specific characteristics, such as what the seasoning consists of, fade into the background. In the German Food Book, the difference is described as follows: “The term ‘spices’ includes herbs and such fungi that are used for their flavor and/or aroma-giving properties.” Essentially, herbs are a subset of spices.