Introduction
A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant
quantities as a food additive for the purpose of flavoring, and indirectly for the purpose of killing and
preventing growth of pathogenic bacteria.
Many of the same substances have other uses in which they are referred to by different terms, e.g. in food
preservation, medicine, religious rituals, cosmetics, perfumery or as vegetables. For example, turmeric is
also used as a preservative; licorice as a medicine; garlic as a vegetable and nutmeg as a recreational drug.
Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are leafy, green plant parts used for flavoring purposes.
[citation needed] Herbs, such as basil or oregano, may be used fresh, and are commonly chopped into smaller
pieces; spices, however, are dried and usually ground into a powder.
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