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Herbs & Cultures

From plant to use

Powder and kitchen

Dried and ground as a spice in food and drink.

Herbs prepared this way (400)
Level
Easy
Ratio
The amounts used in recipes: a teaspoon to a tablespoon per dish.
Time
Grinding takes a few minutes; drying days to weeks, depending on the material.
Shelf life
Ground spices 6–12 months, airtight, dark and cool. Whole seeds and pieces of bark keep longer.

Many herbs on this site are first and foremost food and spice: ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic and thyme. In that form they have been used daily for centuries, usually in small amounts and together with fat, pepper or other spices. Ground herbs also go into honey or into drinks such as golden milk.

Suited to

Spices, roots, seeds and culinary herbs known as food.

Step by step

  1. Dry the herb completely, in an airy place out of the sun or in a dehydrator at no more than 40 °C.
  2. Toast seeds briefly in a dry pan for more aroma, if you like.
  3. Grind finely in a mortar or grinder and sieve if needed.
  4. Store airtight and dark, and preferably grind small amounts at a time.

Tips

  • Turmeric is traditionally combined with black pepper and fat.
  • Whole spices stay aromatic much longer than ground ones.

Registry

Herbs prepared this way

Herbs on this site whose description mentions this preparation. That does not mean every herb is safe to prepare yourself: read the safety information for each one.

  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 475

    Black musli

    Curculigo orchiodes

    Traditionally attributed effects: bitter aromatic tonic, soothing, diuretic, aphrodisiac, cleansing; for haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, jaundice, asthma, itching and skin diseases, urinary stones, bronchitis, lumbago, recovery after illness.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 554

    Black nightshade

    Solanum nigrum

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, calming, induces sweating and urination, expectorant; for oedema, chronically enlarged liver, jaundice, chronic skin diseases, coughing up blood, haemorrhoids, kidney and bladder inflammation, gonorrhoea, eye diseases; pain-relieving wash.

    Greco-Roman medicine+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 135

    Black pepper and long pepper

    Piper nigrum

    Important warming spices in Ayurveda, used for sluggish digestion and colds. Piperine from pepper increases the absorption of some substances, such as curcumin.

    Ayurveda+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 782

    Sulfur (liu huang)

    Sulfur

    Traditionally attributed effects: externally for scabies and fungal infections.

    Chinese medical traditions