What’s the Difference Between Herbs and Spices?

We often here the term “herbs and spices”. As any amateur chef knows, herbs and spices are vital ingredients in many dishes. They add flavor, aroma, color, texture and even nutrients.

But have you ever stopped for a moment to think what the difference is between the two families of food flavor enhancers?

Both spices and herbs are parts of plants (fresh or dried) that are used to enhance the flavor of foods. They’ve also been known to preserve foods, cure illness and enhance cosmetics.

The difference between the two is where they are obtained from a plant.

Herbs come from the leafy and green part of the plant.

Spices are parts of the plant other than the leafy bit such as the root, stem, bulb, bark or seeds.

Examples of herbs include basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and mint. They are usually grown in more temperate areas than spices and have great medicinal value and are also used in the preparation of cosmetic products.

Spices are usually dried before being used to season foods. Some examples are cinnamon, cloves, ginger and pepper. Unlike herbs, they are grown in more tropical countries. They’ve also been known to preserve foods and some have medicinal value, such as turmeric with its anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal properties.

Despite the above clarification, according to the American Spice Trade Association, spices are defined as “any dried plant product used primarily for seasoning purposes”. This really broadens the definition of spices, allowing it to include herbs, dehydrated veggies, spice blends and spice seeds.

Below is a table listing 5 each of herbs and spices, along with their reported nutritional/health benefits.

Herb	Nutrition	Spice	Nutrition
Basil	Rich in Vitamin A and K. Assists with combatting bowel inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis	Cinnamon	Lowers blood sugar levels, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides especially in people with type 2 diabetes
Mint	Helps with digestion and asthma	Ginger	Can stop nausea and may also relieve heartburn and bloating
Oregano	Assists with inflammation	Chilli	Contains capsaicin which puts the heat in chilies, may lower the risk of skin and colon cancers, shown to suppress appetite and boost metabolism
Parsley	Protects against rheumatoid arthritis, antioxidant-rich, fights cancer, high in vitamin C and iron.	Cloves	Have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic properties; they are known for relieving flatulence and can actually help promote good digestion as well as metabolism
Thyme	Contains the oil, thymol, especially helpful for chest and respiratory problems, also acts as an antiseptic and disinfectant.	Mustard seeds	Contain phytonutrient compounds that protect against cancers of the gastrointestinal tract; believed to reduce the severity of asthma

 

So…what’s your favorite spice or herb?

 

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