It does not matter your ethnicity; whatever food is made in your kitchen is incomplete without tints and tones of herbs and spices. Be it your kitchen or your favourite restaurant, the food will turn out bland without herbs and spices. You cannot imagine any food to be made without herbs and spices. They add flavour to an otherwise dull delicacy. The importance of herbs and spices cannot be noticed till they are not added to the food. Before going further, let us first understand how herbs and spices differ. The two terms are often considered synonymous but are not. What are herbs? Herbs are small plants that have tender and soft stems. The stems and leaves of such plants add flavour to different delicacies. Sounds new? It is not! You know a lot of herbs, and you use them daily. Some of the most common herbs used to add flavour to delicacies are coriander, thyme, parsley, basil, etc. We usually add fresh leaves when cooking a dish. The aroma of these spices gets absorbed in the food, giving it a lip-smacking flavour—the culinary purposes of herbs from cuisine to cuisine. People of different ethnicities have different favourites. Like, mint and dill are widely used and loved in Middle Eastern cuisine, Thai people love using coriander and lemongrass in their delicacies, and so on. Well, now you know precisely what makes Thai curry so delicious. Some common Herbs Parsley: Parsley is widely prevalent in the Mediterranean regions. It is chopped, and fresh parsley leaves are sprinkled over savoury delicacies to enhance their flavour. Rosemary: Rosemary is usually used in salads and soups. It is commonly used to marinate meat, lamb, and pork. Mint: Mint is used in almost every culture. It instantly boosts the taste of any savoury and spicy dish. Coriander: Want to elevate the flavour of any dish? What better than coriander! You can add coriander to every single word. Be it curry or gravy; coriander has got you covered. What are spices? Spices are usually dried condiments. They are aromatic, powerful, and less mild than herbs. Herbs are fresh and tender leaves usually poured directly into different delicacies. Unlike herbs, spices are the dried parts of plants added to foods to boost their aroma. A tiny amount of spices is packed with a plethora of flavours. Some common spices Cloves: Cloves are fragrant buds that are popularly used in Indian cuisine. If you are a hardcore Biryani lover, you know just how vital cloves are. They have a strong flavour and aroma and are pungent in taste. They add warmth and a hint of hotness to Indian curries and rice delicacies. Turmeric: Can you even get through cooking a dish without using turmeric? It is added to words, but it has medicinal and antibacterial properties. It belongs to the ginger family and also has anti-inflammatory benefits. Saffron: One of the most popular and loved spices. Saffron is native to Kashmir and derived from the stigma of crocus flowers. It is a royal spice and has a honey-like aroma. Cumin: Cumin, popularly known as Jeera, adds a smoky and robust flavour to curries and gravies. Asafoetida: It has anti-bacterial properties, and a pinch of Asafoetida can overpower the delicacy. It has a roasted-garlic aroma and is a flavouring agent. Why should you buy herbs and spices online? Fresh stock: The herbs and spices that you get in grocery stores are stocked in the same place for months. With a lot of processing, storing, and transportation, by the time the spices reach the racks of your grocery store, they are already months old. Buying herbs online helps you get the freshest stock. Buying spices online can help you get fresh spices that retain strong flavour. Competitive pricing: Online sites have a massive competition for sellers to sell their products. This results in competitive pricing, and you can compare the herb prices and spice prices to get the best deals. The variety of herbs and spices: Suppose you wish to buy a rare batch of herbs and spices; you may not be able to get it in your local grocery shop. When you buy herbs online or kicks online, for that matter, you get to choose from a variety of options and get the rarest of herbs and spices with ease. Try Herbs And Spices With Smytten Want to try the herbs and spices you wish to use before buying? Smytten gives you a chance to do that! With us, you can quickly test the products you want to purchase to ensure their quality and taste. Our trials will help you choose the best for yourself. Reasons To Try Herbs And Spices Before You Buy them. It would help if you always tried things before buying. When it comes to food, quality cannot be compromised. The herbs and spices you use in your food must be of good quality. And, you must always consider trying herbs and spices before you buy them. This way, you can determine if the stock is fresh or stale and buy it accordingly. FAQs • What are herbs? Herbs are small plants that have tender and soft stems. The stems and leaves of such plants add flavour to different delicacies. • What are Spices? Spices are usually dried condiments. They are aromatic, powerful, and less mild than herbs. Unlike herbs, spices are the dried parts of plants added to foods to boost their aroma. • Should you buy herbs and spices online? Yes, you must consider buying herbs and spices online as it helps you determine their freshness, provides you with competitive pricing and enables you to choose from a variety of herbs and spices.