Herbs and spices are used daily in the kitchen, they have been used since prehistoric times. They have the power to elevate the flavor of our food. They are what we commonly call the seasoning, which puts our meals on point.
In addition to improving the taste of food, herbs and spices can also serve as preservatives and they have medicinal properties.
Both condiments come from plants and although we usually refer to them interchangeably, they are not the same. If someone asks you, would you know how to tell the difference?
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Difference between herbs and spices
The difference between herbs and spices is in the plant part from which they come.
Herbs
Are the leaves of the plant like the parsley, coriander, bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, basil. The oregano is grass because it is a leaf.
Herbs can be fresh or dry, chopped, or whole.
The Encyclopedia Britannica explains that the herbs can come from herbaceous plants (they lack woody stems) and from woody plants, such as a bay leaf.
Spices
A seasoning harvested from any other part of the plantLike the roots, bark, seeds, flowers, rhizomes, or bulbs, it is considered a spice.
Examples of spices:
Cinnamon. It comes from the bark of trees of the genus Cinnamomum
Nail. They are dried flower buds of the clove tree.
Spices tend to have a stronger flavor than herbs. Generally, we find them dry, and they can be in pieces or ground.
Plants that offer herbs and spices
You can find herbs and seeds of the same name, for example, the coriander.
The leaves of the Coriandrum sativum plant are called coriander, they are an herb. While the seeds, They’re a spice.
So, in the kitchen, the herbs are the leaves, while the spices come from the rest of the plant. Botanically, herbs are whole plants that have no wooden parts like trees and shrubs.
