Memorize these and recognize 73.4% of all Herbs & Spices clues.
| # | Answer | Count | Sample Clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | paprika | 14 | Eros is a pungent type of this spice (hint: eros is a Hungarian term) |
| 2 | nutmeg | 14 | To keep prices high in the 1760s, the Dutch burned warehouses of this spice whose seed covering supplies mace |
| 3 | ginger | 13 | It's used medically to treat colic (oh, & in Japan to cleanse the palate) |
| 4 | cinnamon | 13 | Barbara Bain's "bark" may have been worse than her bite as this spicy character on "Mission: Impossible" |
| 5 | saffron | 12 | Centuries ago this spice was used to dye cloth a deep yellow; today, it gives a yellow hue to Risotto Milanese |
| 6 | Rosemary | 10 | The first name of George Clooney's singer aunt |
| 7 | cloves | 10 | From French for "nail" because of its shape, they spike oranges for pomanders & ham for Easter |
| 8 | sage | 10 | One known for wisdom |
| 9 | oregano | 9 | Its name comes from oros ganos, Greek for "joy of the mountain" |
| 10 | dill | 9 | Its seeds are used in curing gherkins; the leaves, or weeds, are used on salads & meats |
| 11 | basil | 9 | Most varieties of this herb essential to Italian pesto have green leaves, but the opal variety has purple leaves |
| 12 | tarragon | 8 | Also called estragon, it's used to add a tang to sauces & many dishes |
| 13 | mace | 8 | This nutmeg spice has an aroma reminiscent of cinnamon & pepper |
| 14 | allspice | 8 | Not a blend of spices, it's the dried berries of the pimento tree |
| 15 | curry | 7 | The "Today" Show got a little spicier when she became its news anchor in 1997 |
| 16 | anise | 7 | Two-word name for the spice seen here; native to China, it has a flavor similar to fennel |
| 17 | turmeric | 6 | Once called Indian saffron because of its yellow color, it's used to color cheese & butter |
| 18 | poppy seeds | 6 | These grayish-blue seeds used to garnish the tops of breads & pastries are so tiny that 900,000 equal a pound |
| 19 | garlic | 6 | This type of garlic grown mainly in California has huge cloves, averaging 1 ounce |
| 20 | vanilla | 5 | The 3 main types of beans that yield this flavoring are Tahitian, Mexican & Bourbon-Madagascar |
| 21 | parsley | 5 | The curly-leaf variety of this herb is the one that's often used as garnish |
| 22 | mustard | 5 | You might find the seeds of this plant in emetics & liniments as well as on hot dogs |
| 23 | cumin | 5 | This spice is used to make chili powders &, along with caraway seed, kummel liqueur |
| 24 | chives | 5 | Vichyssoise is made with leeks & garnished with this other member of the onion family, the smallest one |
| 25 | Tea | 5 | Peter Rabbit's mother made him this herbal tea after his adventures in Mr. McGregor's garden |
| 26 | a bay leaf | 5 | This aromatic leaf, used to flavor meat, soups & stews, comes from a laurel tree |
| 27 | peppermint | 4 | Mentha piperita, this one of the more than 20 species of mint, is frequently used in cooking |
| 28 | licorice | 4 | Other names for this herb include black sugar & sweet root |
| 29 | horseradish | 4 | The white root of this herb makes a pungent relish, usually served with roast beef |
| 30 | cilantro | 4 | Coriander is also called Chinese parsley or this |
| 31 | Cayenne | 4 | The capital of French Guiana or a Porsche SUV |
| 32 | savory | 3 | There actually is an herb called this, a word for a flavor that is salty or spicy but not sweet |
| 33 | pepper | 3 | To assault with multiple rounds of bullets |
| 34 | Laurel | 3 | The bay leaf comes from this type of evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean |
| 35 | ginseng | 3 | Ivy is related to this herb, long used in teas & as a drug in China |
| 36 | catnip | 3 | Domestic felines are strongly attracted to this herb, nepeta cataria |
| 37 | caraway | 3 | Its seeds are found on rye bread & its essential oil is used in kummel liqueur |
| 38 | mint | 3 | Menthol, an ingredient in many medicines for colds & coughs, comes from this herb |
| 39 | thyme | 2 | This herb contains a large amount of thymol, a powerful antiseptic |
| 40 | spearmint | 2 | Gum is often flavored with this minty herb, probably named for its sharp leaves |
| 41 | Herb Alpert | 2 | This trumpet player headed the Tijuana Brass on "Spanish Flea", the theme song for "The Dating Game" |
| 42 | Ginger Spice | 2 | In 2003 Geri Halliwell, this redheaded spice, played Phoebe in an episode of "Sex and the City" |
| 43 | clove | 2 | This word can refer to an ancient spice or a segment of a bulb, as of garlic |
| 44 | Celery | 2 | A mixture of this seed & salt is used in Bloody Marys & stuffings |
| 45 | celery salt | 2 | An ingredient in old bay seasoning is this type of salt with a crunchy vegetable in its name |
| 46 | rosemary & thyme | 2 | English for Petroselinum crispum, Salvia & Rosmarinus officinalis & Thymus vulgaris |
These appear 8+ times. Memorize these first.
Jump to: General