Spices

In cooking, as in life, the simple things are often the best. Simply rub our seasoning into your Sunday lamb roast just before you pop it in the oven. Next, mix up a Bloody Mary and season with a pinch of this mix. Finally, watch your worries float away. Also great for steaks and we use this as a bbq dry rub on our award-winning smoked brisket.

Arrabiata is a spicy Italian tomato sauce. Heat 2 teaspoons of this spice mix in a frying pan with olive oil. Add 2 tins of chopped tomatoes (425 ml) then reduce over high heat for about 15 mins. Serve with Penne Rigate or use it as a sauce for pizzas.

Ingredients: Tomatoes, chilli, garlic, basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, marjoram

Batak berries are harvested in the wild in North Sumatra in Indonesia by the Batak or Toba people. They grow on a thorny bush: the zanthoxylum acanthopodium, related to the Szechuan berries. The Batak people are renowned in Indonesia for being great musicians and orators, but also for their architecture and for constantly challenging Indonesian authorities. They live together in communities in regions bordering Lake Toba.

The berries are also called "Andaliman pepper" or "Bataks pepper". They grow at altitudes of 1,500m north of Tapanuli and Samosir, near Lake Toba. This region is known as the "Batak Kingdom".

A traditional Batak dish is "Ikan mas arsik" or "Goldfish with Arsik sauce" which is made from carps fished from Lake Toba. The carps are cooked in a wok and served with a sauce seasoned with torched ginger, shallots, garlic, galanga, lemongrass, turmeric, and chilli.

Black cardamom has a punchy sharp tannic attack releasing flavours of menthol and camphor.

Once opened, this spice from the Himalayas exudes complex aromas of smoked Chinese tea, resin and sweet spices.

It spices up fish stock or fruit compote. Remove the seeds from the husk before cooking. Best ground and used just before serving.

This ingenious Cajun Mix from Louisiana is simply delicious with potatoes, fish and shellfish!

The French Cajuns are the descendants of the Acadian people, the French from Nova Scotia who were deported to Louisiana by the English during the tragic "Great Upheaval " in 1750. They set up in "bayous" in the Mississippi river, strange and inhospitable marshlands crawling with wild animals, as this was the only place they were allowed to stay.

This mix of spices and aromatic herbs is the ingenious creation of the French who learned how to survive in these hostile lands. It is made from thyme, pink onions, paprika, hot chilli pepper, cumin, black pepper and makes a delicious stock for shellfish, releasing strong, spicy, and very aromatic notes.

Cajun cuisine is a melting pot of French, Creole, African and Spanish cuisine and is one of America’s most varied and richest cuisines, with famous traditional dishes like Jambalaya gumbo made with meat, shrimps or sausages, all just as tasty as each other when prepared with Cajun Mix.

Ingredients: Paprika, coriander, mustard, turmeric, fennel, black pepper, cumin, garlic

These cloves from Madagascar will delight all your tagines, soups, sauces and sticky chocolate cakes!

They are harvested by hand before being left to dry in the sun. This helps to preserve their delicious aromas of burnt wood and bourbon vanilla.

Coriander is an age-old aromatic plant that has been used for centuries in cooking and garnishing. 

This coriander powder will open up a whole new culinary experience, and helps to enhance your dishes with a delicious fragrance and zesty note. Best used with seafood dishes and creamy sauces. 

It gets its name from the delightful little village of Espelette tucked away at the foot of the Basque mountains. Although it’s considered as one of the emblems of the Basque country, it was originally brought back from South America by Christopher Colombus in the 16th century. Its Protected Designation of Origin status means that all the farmers must comply with the specifications that set out the geographical area where the chilli pepper can be produced and certain rules which guarantee the quality of the chilli pepper.

Its aromas of tomato, hay and pepper are delicate and subtle, almost fleeting. Harvested between the end of August and October, the red fruit is oven-dried, where they are turned every 6 hours, then festoons of the peppers are hung outside local houses to dry out further before being ground down to a powder.

Deviliously invigorating, its spicy and fruity flavour and its warm and sharp aroma reflect the light-hearted ambience of the Basque country.

It’s a speciality of Southwestern French cuisine that you’ll find it in every dish, omelettes, salads, bread and even chocolate.

Fenugreek originates from West Asia and Southern Europe and has been grown in India and Egypt for thousands of years.

In Ethiopia, these seeds are one of the ingredients of the renowned "Doro Wat" chicken stew, served with a mixture of mead, offal, hard-boiled eggs and Berbere spices.

This Ethiopian fenugreek will enhance chicken masalas, lentils, mashed vegetables, chicken skewers and marinated poultry.

The seeds are best roasted in a pan or soaked in water before grinding them.

Fenugreek's botanical name "Trigonella foenum-graecum" refers to the triangular shape of the seeds (“trigonella”) and to what it was initially used for ("foenum-graecum" Greek hay). The Romans imported it from Greece as animal fodder (“Greek hay”).

Garam Masala is found in many types of meat and vegetable curry recipes. It can be mixed with yoghurt as a delicious sauce or added to desserts (such as doughnuts, rice pudding, fruit salads, and more!).

When ground with a mortar and pestle, it will spice up sautéed chicken, a spicy soup, a vegetable tart or Indian-style fish dishes. In Hindi, Garam means “spicy” and Masala means “spice mix”. It’s a roasted spice mix which is widely used in North Indian cuisine and has enchanted the rest of India and Pakistan. Here's what you'll need to make your own Garam Masala mix: fenugreek, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, green cardamom, coriander.

Ingredients: Fenugreek, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, green cardamom, coriander

Depending on where it comes from, the spiciness and aroma of gingers can vary. This perennial tropical plant is a tuber or rhizome which is part of the same botanical family as cardamom, turmeric and Ethiopian Korarima.

This Nepalese ginger is harvested by hand in the Mahabharat range, at altitudes of 2000m. Its outstanding freshness is accompanied by sweet lemony flavours.

Perfect with sweet potato mash, King prawns, home-made jam, fruit salad and wok-fried vegetables, this spice is widely used in Creole, Asian, African and Indian cooking.

Green cardamom comes from the rhizome Elettaria cardamom which originally came from the Malabar coast in India. It was introduced to North America at the beginning of the 20th century. The name of its botanical species "Elettaria" means "cardamom seed" in Tamil. It comes from the same botanical genus as ginger, turmeric and Ethiopian Korarima.

Nowadays green cardamom is grown in Guatemala, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Salvador, Tanzania, Honduras and Thailand.

Green cardamom has aromas of eucalyptus and camphor and its strong ripe citrus fruity notes go perfectly with Asian and Oriental dishes.

Once ground, this spice will enchant carrot mashes, chicken tagines with crunchy vegetables, almond and anise cakes or fish served with sauce. It can also be infused in tea or coffee to add a spicy touch.

Best ground with a pestle and mortar to release its full flavour, you can grind both the whole pod or just the seeds.

Originally from the Middle East, cumin has appeared as a smoking spice or used to prepare food. It is of the same family as parsley.

Cumin comes from the fruit of the plant. Before maturity, it is given cuts to its stems and bunches. Suspended a few days, then beaten like wheat, the harvested fruit is then dried in the sun. It has a bitter but warm taste, is slightly sweet, and has a very strong aroma.

Cumin is a great addition to chili con carne, hummus, or a lamb Parmentier. 

The French expeditioner, botanist and colonial administrator Pierre Poivre, was the first to introduce spice plants (nutmeg, cloves and pepper) to Mauritius in the 18th century. He wanted to turn Mauritius into a spice producing island and put a stop to the Dutch monopoly of the spice trade.

Mild Mauritius massalé is a wondrous mix of roasted spices with intense sweet flavours and mild notes of smoked pepper. Its magnificent complex aromas are released as soon as it is slightly heated. Mild Mauritius massalé appeared at the beginning of the 18th century in Mauritius with the arrival of Indian immigrants who brought the recipe with them.

It will enhance home-made vegetable achars (pickled vegetables), sautéed shrimps, fish curry or sausage rougail. It is used to season the famous “Biryani”, a local indo-musulman dish traditionally served at weddings, which is made from basmati rice and marinated meat. It can be mixed with yoghurt as a delicious sauce or added to desserts (doughnuts, rice pudding, fresh orange fruit salad…etc).

Ingredients: Saffron, coriander, cumin, mustard, dholl, rice, fenugreek, black, pepper, cinnamon, clove, chicken curry leaves (Murraya koenigii).

This Berber spice mix comes directly from North Africa. It has a powerful and spicy attack with overriding sweet and smooth sensations. Its aromas of sweet spices and its delicate lemony notes will enhance couscous, vegetable stews, fish tagines, beef tagines, lamb tagines, mutton tagines with figs, chicken tagines with almonds and prunes.

To preserve the delicate flavours of this spice blend, it is best infused in sauces during cooking. 

This spice mix is made from ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and other spices perfect for flavouring a pigeon pastilla or roast lamb with herbs.

In the 15th century, nutmeg could only be found in the Moluccas archipelago on the volcanic islands of Banda in Indonesia. For many years it was highly sought after by the European colonial powers. The Portuguese were the first to colonize the archipelago in the 16th century followed by the English with the East India Company and then the Dutch East India Company (VOC).

In 1665, the Dutch managed to chase the British off Run island (Moluccas archipelago) and set fire to all the nutmeg trees to keep the monopoly of trading nutmeg. The English fleet furiously fought for Run island against the Dutch. In 1667, the treaty of Breda put an end to the bloody battles between the two major colonial powers: the Dutch gave the English Manhattan (Nieuw Amsterdam) in return for Run island.

Later on, the nutmeg tree was introduced to Grenada, India, the West Indies, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.

Nutmeg is surrounded by a thin coating called mace, which is sweeter and more delicate than nutmeg, yet slightly peppery. Grind with a pestle and mortar to add a hint of creativity to your cream desserts, fruit compotes, roast pike-perch or grilled chicken with ginger.

Grate nutmeg to flavour white sauces, gratin dauphinoise, mashed or fried potatoes.

This Paprika comes from the Zitava region in Slovakia, where it has been grown and produced traditionally for more than 100 years. Its fairly hot, salty and strong smoky notes give it its distinctive taste together with its outstanding spicy notes.

Aromatic footprint: this paprika's powerful aromatic intensity releases fruity notes of cooked cherries and burnt herbs. Its taste of caramelized meat and its slightly sweet attack will take you by surprise!

Perfect with: Savoyarde cheese fondue, gratin dauphinoise, cream sauce for white asparagus, cream sauce for smoked fish, or infused in red wine in a beef stew.

Best sprinkled over your dishes just before serving. Paprika is also used infused in meat stew (like Hungarian goulash).

Pimenton is a mild chilli pepper from South America which Christopher Colombus brought back to Queen Isabella of Castile.

Ever since the 14th century, Pimenton is grown in Spain in the Vera region, at the heart of the Sierra de Gredos mountain range. This region has an exceptional temperate and humid microclimate. This Pimenton de la Vera has been granted Protected Designation of Origin, which is a guarantee of excellent quality.

Pimenton de la Vera comes from the Capsicum Annuum bush which is around a metre high. The fruits are carefully hung up to dry, then smoked using green oak wood for two weeks. There are only 12 producers of Pimenton de la Vera who have the specific know-how to produce it. 

With notes of chorizo, the spice's dark red colour is typically Spanish and helps to brighten up all traditional Spanish dishes from paëlla to tortilla.

Ingredients: Paprika, sunflower oil (1%)

The Szechuan Berry gets its name from the Asian region where it grows: Szechuan, in China. The small berries grow on shrubs with crimson foliage. The berries are initially green, turning red and then brown as they ripen. They open gradually to release the two seeds inside... leaving the tasty husk for us!

Long appreciated in ancient China for its mixture of freshness and heat, its power and also its aphrodisiac properties, the Szechuan berry is even said to have embalmed the walls of the "pepper rooms" of the luxury Chang’an palace with its mesmerizing perfume.

It arrived in Europe in the 13th century when Marco Polo imported it to Venice where it charmed the chefs and enhanced every dish until it fell into culinary oblivion. It returned to fame in the 19th century and since then, has experienced a renaissance around the world, along with the spread of Szechuan cuisine.

Its aromas of lime and notes of dried flowers and acidy cherries go perfectly with foie gras, pan-fried green asparagus and even in desserts such as a sticky chocolate cake.

It is a must-have for any chef or food buff!

Saffron, which gets its name from the Persian "zapharan" meaning "stigmas", is a spice which comes from the three stigmas from the Crocus sativus. Originally from the Middle East, it was first grown 4,000 years ago in the Greek provinces.

Considered the most expensive spice in the world, saffron is rare due to the extremely tedious harvesting process and its very low yield. Roughly 150,000 crocus flowers are needed to obtain just 1kg of saffron.

Very sought after by gastronomes for its extraordinary flavour and colour, saffron is considered the crown jewel of the spice kingdom.

Harvesting requires patience and dexterity and is carried out very carefully when the crocus blooms, which only lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Local women delicately handpick these flowers which only last a day before wilting. Then comes the intricate process of removing the stigmas from the flowers, keeping intact the most aromatic part of the flower, using an extremely precise and age-old technique.

The red stigma of the mauve coloured crocus has surprising aromas of cedar, pepper and flowers, bringing together warmth, intensity and a delicate sweetness. It leaves gourmets spellbound and is a must-have for any chef in search of a Michelin star.

Saffron, which gets its name from the Persian "zapharan" meaning "stigmas", is a spice which comes from the three stigmas from the Crocus sativus. Originally from the Middle East, it was first grown 4,000 years ago in the Greek provinces.

Considered the most expensive spice in the world, saffron is rare due to the extremely tedious harvesting process and its very low yield. Roughly 150,000 crocus flowers are needed to obtain just 1kg of saffron.

Very sought after by gastronomes for its extraordinary flavour and colour, saffron is considered the crown jewel of the spice kingdom.

Harvesting requires patience and dexterity and is carried out very carefully when the crocus blooms, which only lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Local women delicately handpick these flowers which only last a day before wilting. Then comes the intricate process of removing the stigmas from the flowers, keeping intact the most aromatic part of the flower, using an extremely precise and age-old technique.

The red stigma of the mauve coloured crocus has surprising aromas of cedar, pepper and flowers, bringing together warmth, intensity and a delicate sweetness. It leaves gourmets spellbound and is a must-have for any chef in search of a Michelin star.

Sansho berries come from Japan and are essential to traditional and authentic Japanese cuisine. They have been used since antiquity when they were used to flavour food offered to the gods.

The Japanese believe that Sansho berries were already used in Japanese cooking as far back as the ancient Jomon era (from 15,000 BC up until 300 BC). At that time, Japan was inhabited by hunter-gatherers. Nowadays the Japanese call them "SANAHO" or "HAJIKAMI". Sansho berries are a true gift of nature and are reason enough to warrant a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Sansho berries are harvested south of Kobe in Wakayama prefecture on Honshu Island. The best time to harvest them is in July and August.

Japanese have traditionally ground the dried berries and used it to enhance the flavours of noodles with soup, grilled eel (unagi) or in the traditional 7-spice mix called: "SHICHIMI". 

Their delicate citrus scents and notes of mandarin leaves go perfectly with sweet and sour dishes, lobster, poached poultry, exotic fruit salad or sprinkled over sticky chocolate cake. In Japan, one of the local delicacies is Kobe beef with Sansho berries.

Chinese star anise or badian comes from the eight-pointed star-shaped pericarp of the fruit of the Illicium verum tree, that is grown in four Chinese provinces: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan.

Its Chinese name "Bajiao" literally means "Eight horns". In China, this spice is traditionally used whole in infusions or ground and used in the traditional Chinese 5-spice mix.

Star anise or Chinese fennel was introduced to Europe by Marco Polo in the 14th century. It was difficult to obtain in the Middle Ages. It was very sought after and very expensive. It was not until the Renaissance when it was imported by the English that it became widely used throughout Europe.

Star anise is harvested twice a year in China between April and October. All production stages are done entirely by hand and star anise is then dried in the sun.

Star anise has a stronger aniseed flavour than green anise. It can be used whole, ground or cracked to flavour infusions, teas, sauces, stocks and marinades. Grate it over your desserts, grilled beef, pan-fried vegetables and fish to add a hint of creativity to your dishes!

A collection of easy-to-use spices for everyday cooking. These spices will delight all your daily dishes. This Steakhouse spice blend is made with: onion, voatsiperifery pepper, cubeb pepper, paprika, cayenne chili pepper, red kampot pepper, garlic, rosemary, thyme and oregano.

Spice up your steak dishes with this delicious blend! You can also add it to breadcrumbs, stuffing, to sauces or directly on your grilled or a la plancha meat - delicious!

This spice mix gets its name from the tandoor clay oven that is traditionally dug into the ground. This oven is used in Northern India and Afghanistan for cooking naan bread and the famous tandoori chicken. In India, cooking is a true art, with recipes and expertise passed down from generation to generation, based on religious traditions which formed certain culinary customs.

This spice mix, so emblematic of India with its deep red colour, has a slightly smoky and salty flavour. Although it’s hot it’s also quite fresh and is not as hot as Madras Curry. It is made from ground coriander, ginger, cardamom, garlic, oregano, fenugreek, cumin, cinnamon, pepper, chilli pepper, nutmeg, cloves, mace, laurel, mustard and salt. The flavours blend together in perfect harmony producing a truly delicious wealth of flavours, perfect with white meat, scallops and king prawns.

Ingredients: Paprika, black pepper, coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, caraway, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg.

This Nepalese pepper is picked from small trees from the Zanthoxylum armatum species, which grow in the wild in the Mahabharat range. With its fresh and citrus notes, it is easy to see why some call it the grapefruit pepper. This little berry is used in all dishes from the Teraï lowlands of southern Nepal.

Known as the birthplace of Buddha, it is amongst the Tharu villages of thatched mud huts that these thorny bushes unfold their treasure at altitudes of 2,000m.
Its exotic notes and aromas of candied lemon, grapefruit and lemongrass enhance scallops, roast lobster served with citrus butter, chicken or a simple citrus fruit salad.

Sprinkle it cracked lightly into your dishes just before serving.

Turmeric is used as a spice, and is widely used in spice mixes like curry or masala and is also used as a food colouring and in olden times was used as paint. It comes from Sud-East India and is grown widely in Asia and Africa.

Turmeric is a wonderful yellow-orange rhizome, with peppery musky aromas. It comes from a tropical plant from the same family as ginger.

It goes through many long stages of processing; once it has been cleaned and cut, it is boiled to remove the skin and then peeled, dried and finally, ground into a powder.

In La Réunion, this local saffron is essential for fragrant traditional dishes, where it shines not only by its powerful colour but also by its health benefits.

This turmeric from Madagascar is harvested from July to October by the Bezanozano people. "Tamotamo" in Malagasy means turmeric. It is traditionally used on the island to spice up rice pudding or the local flan "Koba" made of banana puree and rice flour.

Turmeric is used in many spice mixes in Indian, West Indian, Nepalese, Thai or North African cuisine: curry, tandoori, vadouvan, Colombo, ras-el-hanout. In ancient times it was traded on the spice route between the West and the East.

This mix is perfect for making a delicious tzatziki sauce.

Simply mix 1 teaspoon of this blend mixed with Greek yoghurt with freshly cut cucumbers to taste, and it's ready to be served!

Ingredients: Dill, garlic, combava, shallot, salt

A collection of easy-to-use spices for everyday cooking. These spices will brighten up all your daily dishes. This Vegetable spice blend is made with garlic, basil, coriander, turmeric, cumin, mild chilli, cinnamon, white pepper and cloves.

Add it to your vinaigrette, pan-fried vegetables, wok stir-frys or gratins!

This blend is perfect when used in cooking or sprinkled just before serving as a seasoning on lightly grilled vegetables. 

Its name comes from "Voa" which means fruit in Malagasy and "Tsiperifery" which is the name of the plant. It's a very rare pepper that is harvested by hand by the local Malagasy villagers from June to August.

Voatsiperifery grows in the wild in the tropical forests of South-East Madagascar. It is difficult and dangerous to pick as the creeper grows as high as 30m and the berries only grow at the top seeking the sun. The pepper's flavour has a fruity base with strong notes of burned herbs. It makes a delicious companion for all your chocolate desserts, and adds a toasty peppery kick!

Crunchy, bitter and sweet!

These mustard seeds are spicy with sweet notes. Add a few to enhance red meats in a mustard sauce, home-made canapés, tomato salads, a fillet of white fish or pan-fried potatoes.

These seeds are best toasted lightly in a pan before grinding. Do not use any oil while toasting and stir well to avoid burning them.

White Penja pepper is considered a grand cru pepper, and it is harvested when ripe in the province of Moungo, before being dried in the sun.

All the production stages (harvesting, retting, washing, drying, sorting) are entirely carried out by hand, mainly by the experienced hands of the local village women. Penja Pepper has recently gained a global gastronomic reputation. In 2014 it became the first product of the African continent to obtain Protected Geographic Indication status (PGI).

The volcanic soils of Penja give the white pepper its fresh aromas of menthol and camphor. Crack it roughly with a mortar and pestle to release its long-lasting flavour.

White Sarawak pepper is grown in the North of Borneo in the Malaysian part of the island (Province of Sarawak). The pepper plants grow in the heart of the rainforests where the famous Borneo orangutangs live.

Sarawak pepper has been awarded Protected Geographic Indication status (PGI). The pepper is harvested from April through until September with its peak in May and June. This pepper is great with seafood dishes, such as pepper crabs and grilled dishes. 

Zaatar (or Zathar) is a spice mix from Byblos in Lebanon, one of the oldest towns in the world, founded in 5000 B.C. During the 3rd century B.C. Byblos traded extensively with Egypt exporting cedar wood needed for Egyptian shipbuilding, resin for mummification, wine and papyrus.

The Phoenician city was an inevitable economic, political and cultural crossroads. When Alexander the Great arrived, its Semitic name “Gebal” was replaced by “Byblos” from “biblion” in Greek which means scroll, due to the papyrus scrolls exported from Byblos. This is also where the name of the Bible comes from.

Zaatar is very widely used in Lebanon, in Syria and throughout the Mediterranean. It is made from 3 ingredients which are highly typical of the Middle East, sesame, thyme, sumac, and is traditionally eaten as a mezze with bread which is dipped in olive oil and then in zaatar.

Deliciously simple, it’s perfect for your pre-dinner drinks. Its acidic, aromatic and slightly salty taste is also ideal for enhancing white meat and poultry. It can also be used in marinades, and its lemony warmth will complement your fish dishes. Use it in cooking, or simply for seasoning at the table, you won’t regret it!

Ingredients: Sumac, golden sesame, white sesame, thyme, salt.

Chipotle pepper is actually a jalapeno pepper that has been dried and smoked. It is a dominant ingredient in South American cuisine; indeed, it forms the basis of many meat dishes or sauces. It is also found at the heart of African or even Indian cuisine.

This green Jalapeno chilli pepper or Chipotle chilli pepper, goes brown once dried and smoked. Perfect for flavouring oils, sauces and vinegars.

Scoville scale: 5/10 (strong)