1
Annatto
Bixa orellana
The deep red-orange seed of a tropical shrub — used as much for color as flavor in Latin American, Filipino, and Caribbean cooking.
Below are spices that contain the letter T anywhere in the name. Each of the 15 spices below opens to a full profile.
List of Spices That Contain T
2
Asafoetida
Ferula assa-foetida
A pungent, sulfurous resin harvested from giant fennel relatives — used in pinhead quantities to mimic the umami of onion and garlic in Brahmin and Jain cooking.
3
Brown Mustard Seed
Brassica juncea
Smaller, darker, and far hotter than yellow seed — the workhorse of Indian tempering and the spice that gives Dijon its bite.
4
Chipotle
Capsicum annuum
A jalapeño pepper smoke-dried for hours over mesquite — bringing leathery sweetness and a campfire bass note to Mexican adobos and rubs.
5
Espelette Pepper
Capsicum annuum
A mild Basque chili from a single French village — a fruity, gentle alternative to black pepper at every Basque table.
6
Mastic
Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia
Aromatic resin "tears" wept by Greek pistachio relatives on the island of Chios — used in Greek ice cream, Turkish delight, and Lebanese pastries.
7
Nutmeg
Myristica fragrans
The dark inner seed of a tropical fruit — warm, sweet, and intoxicating in eggnog, béchamel, and Mughal court cuisine.
8
Rose Petal
Rosa damascena
Dried petals of damask roses — used in Persian rice, Indian gulkand, Middle Eastern desserts, and the spice blend ras el hanout.
9
Star Anise
Illicium verum
The dramatic eight-pointed seed pod of a Chinese evergreen — sweeter and more potent than anise, and the defining note of pho and five-spice.
10
Sweet Paprika
Capsicum annuum
Ground sweet bell-pepper-style chiles with rich color and little heat — the supermarket staple sprinkled over deviled eggs and goulash worldwide.
11
Tamarind
Tamarindus indica
The sticky, dark, sweet-sour pulp inside a tropical legume's pod — central to Pad Thai, sambar, Worcestershire sauce, and Mexican tamarindo candy.
12
Tulsi
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Holy basil — a sacred Hindu herb with a peppery, clove-like aroma used as much in temple offerings as in healing teas and Thai stir-fries.
13
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
A neon-gold rhizome from the ginger family — the color of Indian curry, the muscle of Buddhist monks' robes, and a growing star of wellness culture.
14
White Pepper
Piper nigrum
Fully ripe peppercorns with the dark husk removed — softer, earthier, and prized in pale sauces where black flecks would distract.
15
Yellow Mustard Seed
Sinapis alba
The milder of the cultivated mustards — a small golden seed that forms the base of American ballpark mustard and English pickle brines.
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