Seasoning School - The Difference Between Herbs & Spices

Date: 16-09-2015

From Our Blog..

The Difference Between Herbs & Spices
Herbs and spices both come from plants, but from different parts. Herbs come from the leafy green part of the plant, whereas spices come from other parts, such as the root, stem, bulb, bark, seeds, flower buds or fruits. In some cases, both the herb and the spice come from the same plant – for example, coriander gives us both fresh leaves and dried seeds. Some flavours come through most strongly in their fresh form, like ginger. Other spices change and develop their true flavour on drying. For example, peppercorns are picked green and the enzyme reaction that occurs as they dry turns them black, and creates the pepper flavour we know.

Quick Tips for Herbs & Spices • Dry rubs are simply combinations of dry ground spices, sometimes with chopped herbs. When you apply them liberally to a good piece of meat, they add a lot of flavour – and when you cook the meat at high heat, the rub creates a crust of flavour that locks in the juices. You can apply spice rubs generously, as the intense flavour is mellowed by cooking. • Just like dry rubs, wet rubs contain mainly dry ground spices, but they’re made into a loose paste by adding small amounts of liquid – often water, wine or stock. Wet rubs are best cooked slowly, at lower heat.
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