What is the difference between herbs and spices?
The words herbs and spices tend to be used interchangeably when describing dried plants that are used to flavor and enhance food. However, there are some subtle differences between the two.
The main difference between herbs and spices is where they come from on the plant. Herbs are from the leaves of the plant and spices come from the seeds, roots, bark, berries or other parts of the plant.
More about herbs
Herbs are considered to be from a plant that does not have a woody stem. They are used to add a salty or spicy flavor to food and they are also commonly used for medicinal purposes. Herbs originally came from moderate climates in areas such as France, England and Italy.
More about spices
Spices are found in plants that tend to grow in warm climates. They are commonly found in the Far East and tropical countries. Spices tend to me more potent than herbs so a smaller amount is needed to be used in cooking to add flavor. Spices can also be used as preservatives.
Some plants are both herbs and spices. Dill is a great example of a plant that produces both. The dill seeds are a spice while dill weed is an herb that comes from the plant’s leaves.
We stock so many herbs and spices at MySpicer.com that sometimes even I forget which group they belong to – herb or spice? The good news is we have organized these all in one category so if you are not sure it is never a problem, they are all searchable in the same place!
Click here to see all of our delicious herbs and spices.
