Mediterranean Spices and Herbs

• Mediterranean cuisine is built around whole foods, healthy fats, seafood and fish, and fresh ingredients. The Mediterranean cuisine is famous not only because it is body nourishing, but also because it is very appealing.

• Thanks to the use of quality and rich spices and herbs, Mediterranean dishes are distinctive and flavorful.

• What would the Mediterranean cuisine be without rosemary, thyme, basil, and the many other aromatic herbs? These herbs contain the spiciness and aroma of the landscape, the energy and the fire of the Mediterranean sun, and last but not least, the beauty of the unique cultural landscape around the Mediterranean.

• Herbs not only provide excellent taste, but are also very healthy and can easily be used as an alternative to salt. They stimulate the metabolism, promote digestion, and relieve inflammation. The herbal kitchen is also useful for minor complaints such as coughs and headaches.

• Top priority when using herbs: they should be as fresh as possible. When dried, they lose much of their flavor. Still, this is not a fundamental rule, as discussed later in the text. Almost every household nowadays has a small herb garden. This is modern, as well as so convenient.

• What is now a “chic” thing to us was normal more than 100 years ago. At that time, the supermarkets did not have the variety of spices to choose from, not to mention finished sauces or ready meals. The housewives had no other way to make tasty food.

• In the Mediterranean cuisine, herbs and spices are often used. The most common are garlic, rosemary, sage, basil, and thyme. All herbs listed below give the Mediterranean cuisine its favorite flavor.

Garlic:

Taste: sharp and very powerful, intense Fits well with: soups, sauces, steaks, and stews 

Basil:

Flavor: spicy, peppery-spicy, slightly sweetish note Fits well with: tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, and the resulting dishes such as tomato soup; also salads, stews, mussels, and egg dishes

Rosemary:

Flavor: herb-spicy, slightly bitter Fits well with: poultry, strong meat and lamb dishes

Sage:

Taste: spicy-bitter, balsamic odor Fits well with: salads, poultry, tomatoes, minestrone, and mince

Thyme:

Taste: spicy tart flavor Fits well with: vegetable soup, spaghetti sauces, tomato salad, mushroom dishes, omelets, and potatoes

Oregano:

Taste: spicy, tart and slightly bitter Fits well with: fish, sheep's cheese, tomato soup, carrots, vegetables, and pizza

Mint:

Taste: uniquely fresh, menthol-containing Fits well with: 

 sauces, pea soup, potatoes, and especially desserts

Tarragon:

Taste: piquant-tart and slightly peppery taste Fits: soups, 

 fish, salads, and sauces

Coriander:

Taste: very peculiar, mildly peppery, slightly sweet, either one likes it, or one does not - who does not like it describes the taste as unpleasantly soapy Fits well with: poultry, salads, pies, cakes, carrots, and pickled fruits 

• Spices and herbs are of great importance in the Mediterranean cuisine because the composition of spices makes the dishes of the Mediterranean kitchen create exceptional taste experiences!

• Mediterranean cuisine cannot be imagined without certain spices and herbs! Basil is one of the most important Mediterranean spices. The noble and slightly peppery flavor of the basil makes it an absolute must in Mediterranean cuisine. The best-known use for basil is Pesto a laGenovese, which is made up of basil of pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, and plenty of olive oil. For a long time, basil was known as a pizza herb, but soon oregano replaced it.

• Oregano, like basil, is one of the most famous spices for Mediterranean cuisine, and both are used in combination with seasoning. As a single spice, oregano is known and famous in Italy for its use on hot, beloved pizza. In Greece, on the other hand, it is often seasoned with dried oregano, such as, for example, sheep's cheese or olives. Also, the spicy Greek peasant salad and hearty meat dishes, such as gyros or souvlaki, give oregano its unique taste! Naturally, we also offer mixed spice mixes such as our pizza spices, sheep cheese spices, and gyro spices.

• The combination of fresh ingredients and dried spices and herbs makes the Mediterranean cuisine so incomparable!

• Many believe that fresh spices have a more intense flavor than dried spices. The Mediterranean cuisine is proof that dried spices can taste just as aromatic and intense, if not even more intensively, than the fresh spices. These Mediterranean spices include oregano, thyme, and bay leaves. Surely you know the incredible aromatic flavor of rosemary? The dry seasoning has a much more intense and aromatic taste than the fresh spice. Rosemary should, therefore, be eaten sparingly when cooking since otherwise, the flavor can quickly turn into bitterness. Rosemary is very popular in Mediterranean cuisine, especially in Italian cuisine, and is part of different Mediterranean spice mixes, such as Italian Blend.