Spice School: Learn Interesting Facts About Spices

Top organizations are always learning, and our team wholeheartedly agrees with this philosophy. We believe that class is always in session. So, to continue to help your business in offering outstanding food products and services, we’re bringing you must-know spice facts through easy-to-digest lessons. Learn about how to use various spices, as well as where they come from, common applications, and more.

Each of the spices featured in our Spice School lessons are part of our online inventory. Thus, if you are interested in any of the ingredients, we encourage you to reach out to our team. Our experts can help you obtain the best quantity of quality spices for your specific application. Eager for even more insider knowledge? We release monthly spice market reports, and if you become an email subscriber, we deliver them to your inbox!

Lesson 1: Black Pepper Facts

Peppercorns are actually a tiny fruit, the drupe of a flowering climbing vine known as piper nigrum, grown in tropical regions, native to the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia.

Lesson 2: Paprika Facts

Paprika is a ground spice made from dried red fruits of the larger and sweeter varieties of the plant Capsicum annuum, called bell pepper or sweet pepper.

Lesson 3: Cardamom Facts

Cardamom is a spice that comes from the seeds of various plants in the ginger family. This spice is native to Southern India, and is also grown in Guatemala.

Lesson 4: Garlic Facts

Garlic is a species in the onion genus, Allium, and is native to Central Asia. It’s close relatives are the onion, shallot, leek and chive.

Lesson 5: Turmeric Facts

Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant member of the ginger genus, native to tropical South Asia.

Lesson 6: Onion Facts

Many archaeologists, botanists and food historians believe onions originated in either Central Asia or Iran and West Pakistan. Most researchers agree the onion has been cultivated for over 5,000 years. 

Lesson 7: Chili Pepper Facts

Chili pepper is a perennial and a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, which is native to tropical America.

Lesson 8: Cumin Facts

Cumin is native to the Middle East region of Asia. It’s a small, flowering, herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family of the genus Cuminum.

Lesson 9: Ginger Facts

Ginger is flowering plant that traces its origins back to Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is closely related to turmeric, cardomon and galangal.

Lesson 10: Nutmeg Facts

Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus Myristica, which is native to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia.

Lesson 11: Red Pepper Facts

Red pepper belongs to the family Solanaceae and is made from the dried fruits of plants from the genus capsicum.

Lesson 12: Cinnamon Facts

Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum.

Lesson 13: White Pepper Facts

White pepper is native to Southeast Asia and is made from the same berries as black pepper.

Lesson 14: Ancho Pepper Facts

Ancho peppers are native to Puebla, Mexico and members of the plant genus Capsicum.

Lesson 15: Coriander Facts

Coriander comes from the coriandrum sativum plant and is native to the Mediterranean and Middle East region.

Lesson 16: Oregano Facts

Oregano is a perennial herb that belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae.

Lesson 17: Guajillo Facts

Guajillo is the dried form of the mirasol pepper, a chili variety of the species Capsicum annuum.

Lesson 18: Cassia Facts

Cassia originates from Southern China and is a member of the Lauraceae family. 

Lesson 19: Chili Powder Facts

Chili powder is a blend of dried chilies that is usually combined with other herbs and spices, such as oregano and cumin seeds.

Lesson 20: Curry Powder Facts

Curry powder is a versatile spice blend that is based on the flavors in India. It is known for its bright hue and savory-sweet flavor.

Lesson 21: Cayenne Facts

Cayenne peppers belong to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It is a cultivar of Capsicum annuum and is believed to have originated in Cayenne, French Guiana.

Lesson 22: Marjoram Facts

Marjoram is an aromatic, perennial herb that belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean and western Asia and can be grown as an annual in northern climates.