What is the Difference Between Spice and Herb

The main difference between spice and herb is that spices are the seeds, buds, roots, barks or fruits of plants whereas herbs are the leaves of plants.

Spices and herbs are two ingredients that make our food flavorful and aromatic. Cuisines all over the world have their unique spices and herbs. Spices are usually the dried parts of plants, other than leaves. Herb is the special word we use to refer to the leafy green part of plants used in cuisine.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Spice
     – Definition, Characteristics, Examples
2. What is a Herb
     – Definition, Characteristics, Examples
3. What is the Relationship Between Spice and Herb
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Spice and Herb
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Herb, Spice, Food

What is a Spice

Spices are parts of plants used for flavouring, colouring or preserving food. Various parts of plants such as seeds, bark, root, and buds can be used as spices. Turmeric (root), cinnamon(bark), cloves (buds), saffron (stigma of flower), cumin (seed), and cardamom (seed pod) are some examples of spices we commonly use. We mostly use spices in their dried form, but we can sometimes use them in their fresh form as well.

Most spices have antimicrobial properties – the ability to kill microorganisms or stop their growth. This is why we use spices for preserving food. Although spices do not spoil or have an expiry date, they lose their flavour over time. Spices also lose their flavour when they are ground. It’s always best to grind your own spices just before using them, instead of using store-bought ground spices. You can grind them using a mortar and pestle or a grinder.  Moreover, spices long last when you store them in a cool and dry place. It is better to keep them in airtight containers and use within a few months.

What is a Herb

Herbs are the green and leafy parts of plants we use for flavouring or garnishing food. Herbs are usually leaves, but sometimes they can also include green stems and flowers. Rosemary, sage, parsley, thyme, basil, curry leaves, lavender, lemongrass and cilantro are some examples of herbs.

Herbs are typically taken from plants with savoury or aromatic properties. In addition to their uses in cuisine, they are also used for medicinal purposes or to create fragrances. We can also categorize herbs as culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. Moreover, we usually use herbs in their fresh form, but some recipes require dried herbs. When using dried herbs, it is best to add them towards the end of cooking to maximize their flavour.

Relationship Between Spice and Herb

• Both are used for flavouring and seasoning.
• They make food aromatic and flavourful.
• We use some plants for both spices and herbs; for example, coriander (seeds) and cilantro (leaves) or dill seeds and dill weeds.

Difference Between Spice and Herb

Definition

Spices are various aromatic and flavourful plant products used to season or flavour food while herbs are the green and leafy parts of plants we use for flavouring or garnishing food. 

Parts of Plants

Spices are seeds, nuts, root, and bark of the flowers while herbs are leaves and green stems of plants.

Examples

Cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, turmeric, saffron, cumin, and cloves are some examples of spices while sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley and basil are some examples of herbs.  

Form

Spices are often used in dried and ground form while herbs are often used in fresh form.

Culinary Uses

We can use spices for flavouring, colouring and preserving food and herbs for flavouring or garnishing food.

Conclusion

Spices and herbs are two ingredients that make our food flavorful and aromatic. The main difference between spice and herb is that spices are the seeds, buds, roots, barks or fruits of plants whereas herbs are the leaves of plants.

Reference:

1. Alfaro, Danilo. “What Are Spices?” The Spruce Eats, The Spruce Eats, 25 May 2020, Available here.
2. “Herb.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 June 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Indian Spices” By Joe mon bkk – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “4198241” (CC0) via Pixabay