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Aromatic Herbs & Spices
Spices and aromatic herbs are ingredients that are increasingly used in the kitchen, giving a unique flavor to their dishes. Sometimes it happens to confuse one with the other, even if they are different products, but their function is usually the same, that is to flavor the dishes, enhancing their flavor. The taste and benefits of aromatic herbs With the expression aromatic herbs, we generally refer to vegetables or herbs grown in pots and in the garden, but also available in the wild. There are several types, but among the best known products stand out bay laurel, basil, borage, oregano, parsley, thyme and sage. The aromatic herbs in the kitchen are used in many countries: for example pasta with tomato and basil is an indispensable must of Italian cuisine. The nutritional value of aromatic herbs is in itself rather poor, but these are very important ingredients because they vary the palatability of the foods and allow some useful substitutions for the body's well-being, such as spicy herbs as an alternative to salt. The aromatic herbs for sale on Natura d’Oriente are products of the highest quality, ideal for making your dishes tastier and to amaze your guests with unforgettable recipes. The taste and the benefits of aromatic spices The term spices indicate dry vegetable products that generally come from tropical countries or in any case from quite distant places, widely used since the past to preserve and flavor foods. Aromatic spices are obtained from different parts of the plants: cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric and ginger stand out among the most appreciated. Spices and aromatic herbs can give any recipe a unique touch, whether it is a meat dish or a tasty side dish: the secret is to find the right balance!
Cardamom in green seeds is a spice particularly loved in the East and in Arab countries, with a pungent, slightly spicy and fruity aroma, with hints of lemon and eucalyptus, but it is now also used in European cuisines. It is also rich in beneficial properties for health, and also for beauty: perfect for obtaining healthy herbal teas.
Ground Cardamom is a spice particularly loved in the East and in the Arab countries, with a pungent, slightly spicy and fruity aroma, with hints of lemon and eucalyptus, but it is now also used in European kitchens. It is also rich in properties beneficial for health, and also for beauty.
Ground Jamaican pepper, (also known as allspice (pimenta dioica) or carnation pepper) is native to the Caribbean and Central and South America. The most important crop in Jamaica, it is used to produce an interesting essential oil, so much so that the scent coming from the plantations pervades the air of the "allspice paths".
The beneficial properties of juniper berries were known from the time of the ancient Egyptians. They were in fact used for embalming and for disinfecting rooms. The numerous active ingredients contained in juniper berries give them important therapeutic benefits. Widely used in folk medicine to treat various ailments.
Sweet paprika lends itself very well to the preparation of various recipes. If we don't like spicy, better choose sweet paprika. Sweet paprika is the only spice that must be used in considerable quantities, otherwise there is a risk that it will not make any contribution to the dish. It is particularly suitable for sauces, flavored butter, hard cheese.
Smoked sweet paprika lends itself very well to the preparation of various recipes. If we love the sweet, rich, fragrant, greedy taste, this is the indicated spice. It is a condiment widely used in Spanish cuisine, both with fish and with all types of soups and is an essential ingredient in most Spanish cured meats.
Paprika can be defined as a spice that is good for the body and mind. Studies carried out on this vegetable have given very positive results. It contains multiple substances that offer wide-ranging benefits. The properties of this spice are more than interesting, it offers benefits to the digestive system, has antiseptic properties and more.
Wild fennel flowers are the small inflorescences that form the umbrella of the plant, highly appreciated as a condiment in cooking. They are collected at the beginning of flowering, dried and then "shelled" in order to obtain this fragrant spice, with a complex and balanced taste. The fennel flower is particularly suitable for flavoring pork, mushrooms, aubergines, olives and typical dishes such as snails in a pan.
These small and aromatic seeds are known for their excellent properties, used both in cooking and for beneficial infusions. They give a very intense aroma and a slightly bitter taste to many recipes, appreciated in Asian, French and Cajun cuisines. Celery seeds are excellent for soups, broths, sauces, flavoring meat and the famous celery salt. They contain precious nutrients and antioxidants, useful for our well-being.
Saffron is widely used in oriental cuisine to prepare meat, fish, rice dishes, desserts, drinks. The intense and persistent aroma and the bitter aroma that characterizes it makes it one of the most precious and expensive spices in the world. In Italy the use on Milanese risotto is known. (The package consists of 2 grams)
An exquisite variant for seasonings and touches of flavor, black garlic is produced by fermentation, and is rich in proteins, phosphorus and calcium. In this way, the pungent taste of white garlic is avoided while maintaining the nutritional principles; indeed, doubling the natural antioxidant and antibiotic properties.
The dish is known all over the world, but it is not paella if it does not include this mix of aromatic and delicate spices - suitable for both fish and meat paella. The amount of spiced mixture is subjective based on taste, you can try it with a teaspoon and then adapt it to your paella recipes!