characteristics of spices and herbs.

3.  What is an herb?
 A plant of which the leaves,or steams and leaves are
used for food or medicine,or in some way for their scent
or flavor
• plants for decorative or utilitarian purposes.
• This defination excludes plants used solely for food.
 How does an herb differ from from a spice ?
• A spice is the dreid seed ,bark,or root of a plant.
• Are gnerally grown in the tropics.

4.  Enhance flavor in
foods, especially
salads, casseroles,
soups, and meats.
 They can be sweet,
Smokey, hot, or
bland.
 Some herbs are also
used to cure
diseases in certain
cultures.

5.  They can be grown in window boxes and in back
yards.
 The smell or fragrance of herbs comes from tiny
hairs with glands all over the stem and leaves of
the plant. The fragrant oil is released by pressure
(like crushing a leaf) or by sunlight.

6.  People used herbs in everyday life because they
had:
◦ No refrigerator - so herbs helped old food taste better
◦ No easy access to water - so people used herbs as perfumes and
deodorants. They even put herbs on floors so when they walked on
them, they had an herb air freshener!
 Some examples of herbs:
◦ Mint
◦ Bay leaves
◦ Basil

7.  From very early times, herbs have been used for
healing. By the fifth century, people in England had 500
herbs they used as medicines.
 Around the 1600s, people started thinking about herbs in a
different way. They looked at an herb and by its color and
shape decided how to use the herb. This was called the
Doctrine of Signatures.

8. An herb with leaves that looked like snake skin would be
used to try to help someone
Who had been bitten by a snake.
A plant growing near a wet
Placewould be used to treat
colds.
A plant with heart-shaped leaves would be used to treat
heart problems.
A plant with heart-shaped leaves would be used to treat
heart problems.

9.  Spices are dried roots, stems, and seeds of plants
that are usually grown in the tropics.
 Aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a
preservative
 Used to add flavor and zest to foods.

10.  Not all spices are hot like many may think, but most
do add flavor.
 Spices are sold in whole and ground forms, with
ground being the most popular.
 Some examples of spices:
◦ Cinnamon
◦ Nutmeg
◦ Pepper
◦ Ginger

11.  Spices and herbs are both from plants and are used
in very small amounts to flavor food.
 "Spice" refers to seasonings made from dried seeds
or bark. Spices generally originate in the Far East
and tropical countries.
 "Herb" refers to any plant with fleshy parts that are
used in brewing tea and seasoning foods, or as
medicines.

12.  Combinations of herbs and spices that are usually
ground up together.
 Some examples:
◦ Pumpkin pie spice
◦ Poultry seasoning
◦ Cajun seasoning

13.  Fresh herbs are not as concentrated as dries herbs,
so you need to use more of them to get the same
flavor.
◦ Unless the recipe calls for fresh, used dried.
◦ Dried herbs contain 3x more flavor then fresh herbs.
 You can microwave fresh herbs in order to dry them.

14.  Ground spices release their flavor immediately when
they are added to food. Therefore, you should add
them toward the end of cooking.
 Whole spices take longer to release flavor…those
can be added earlier

15.  If using whole spices…you might want to put them in
a cheesecloth bag (cloth bag that adds flavor to the
product) before adding them to your food.
 This way the flavor can escape while your meal
cooks and you can remove them before serving.

16.  Gourmet food is food that is
expertly seasoned using
herbs and spices.
 Creative seasoning can make
even the most basic foods,
such as pizza, into gourmet
dishes!
 Becoming familiar with a
wide range of spices can
help you learn how to
prepare foods with a
gourmet touch.

17.  Vanilla flavored dishes, such as custard, often call
for nutmeg.
 Italian dishes, such as pasta or fish, often call for
oregano.
 Rosemary is often used in chicken and lamb.
 Cinnamon is often used with apples.
 What are some examples you can think of?

18.  Always store them in cool, dry places away from
light.
 Keep containers tightly closed.
 When storing fresh herbs, keep them in the
refrigerator. Putting the washed herbs in a Ziploc
bag with a paper towel is a good way to keep them
fresh.