4 ms·

I've been going the other way recently. How could it have been so tough to flavor dishes? Honey & frankincense might have been hard to come by, but oregano, bas

by ip26 7y ago

I've been going the other way recently. How could it have been so tough to flavor dishes? Honey & frankincense might have been hard to come by, but oregano, basil, cilantro/coriander, cumin, parsley, anise, fennel, rosemary, tarragon, dill, chives, mint, and thyme (just off the top of my head) were all available in southern Europe and can mostly be grown in your kitchen. The spice trade brought cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and turmeric.

rtkwe 7y ago
Herbs vs spices. Herbs are great but most of my favorite dishes involve a lot more spices than herbs.
- thaumasiotes 7y ago
  You forgot to explain what you think the difference between herbs and spices is.
  - rtkwe 7y ago
    > Herbs generally refers to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, bark, roots and fruits. People confused can look up the definition of herbs and spices. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb
  - Digit-Al 7y ago
    From the article: >Where herbs are often chosen to complement and flatter the ingredients they adorn, spices call attention to themselves, transforming and sometimes even usurping a dish, so it becomes a mere vehicle and excuse for spice itself.
    - thaumasiotes 7y ago
      So, according to the two responses here, the difference between herbs and spices is either: 1. Spices have a strong flavor, whereas herbs have a weak flavor; or 2. Herbs are a leaf, flower, or non-woody stem, whereas spices are any other part of a plant. All I can conclude here is that it's nonsensical to try to explain something in terms of a contrast between "herbs" and "spices".
      - rtkwe 7y ago
        Both are true. Herbs do have a much milder flavor than spices on the whole and they're from different plant parts! There are multiple ways to classify things.
9nGQluzmnq3M 7y ago
Southern Europe, yes, but in Scandinavia, pretty much the only widely available & used native herb was dill.
- tonyarkles 7y ago
  And that’s how we got Aquavit: dill (or caraway) flavoured Scandinavian spirits.

by ip26 7y ago

rtkwe 7y ago

Herbs vs spices. Herbs are great but most of my favorite dishes involve a lot more spices than herbs.

thaumasiotes 7y ago
You forgot to explain what you think the difference between herbs and spices is.
- rtkwe 7y ago
  > Herbs generally refers to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, bark, roots and fruits. People confused can look up the definition of herbs and spices. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb
- Digit-Al 7y ago
  From the article: >Where herbs are often chosen to complement and flatter the ingredients they adorn, spices call attention to themselves, transforming and sometimes even usurping a dish, so it becomes a mere vehicle and excuse for spice itself.
  - thaumasiotes 7y ago
    So, according to the two responses here, the difference between herbs and spices is either: 1. Spices have a strong flavor, whereas herbs have a weak flavor; or 2. Herbs are a leaf, flower, or non-woody stem, whereas spices are any other part of a plant. All I can conclude here is that it's nonsensical to try to explain something in terms of a contrast between "herbs" and "spices".
    - rtkwe 7y ago
      Both are true. Herbs do have a much milder flavor than spices on the whole and they're from different plant parts! There are multiple ways to classify things.

9nGQluzmnq3M 7y ago

Southern Europe, yes, but in Scandinavia, pretty much the only widely available & used native herb was dill.

tonyarkles 7y ago
And that’s how we got Aquavit: dill (or caraway) flavoured Scandinavian spirits.