With Cinco de Mayo just a few days away, we thought it might be a good time to share with you a little about the most common Mexican spices.
Most Common Mexican Spices
Anise
Anise is a common spice used for flavoring Mexican sweets such as cakes and cookies. It has a very distinct licorice taste.
Chili Powder
Chili powder differs from chile pepper in that it has been blended with spices as well. The addition of cumin, garlic, onion, and other spices make this blend perfect for not only chili, but also anything with a southwestern flavor.
Chipotle Powder
The Chipotle Chile has a deep smoke flavor with tones of chocolate and tobacco. It is good in meat rubs and commonly found in Adobado sauces and for flavor in Mexican soups and stews.
Cloves
Ground cloves mixes with other spices are used frequently in Mexican dishes, especially sauces.
Cumin
Cumin has a very distinct flavor. It tastes earthy, musky warm and nutty, It is often mixed with other spices for taco seasoning. It ads flavor to Mexican dishes such as guacamole, vegetables and meat.
Oregano (Mexican)
The Mexican version of Oregano is stronger and sometimes mintier than the Mediterranean version and is popular in many Mexican dishes, such as chili con carne.
