1
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.
Below are spices that contain the letter U anywhere in the name. Each of the 15 spices below opens to a full profile.
List of Spices That Contain U
2
Cumin
Cuminum cyminum
A ribbed brown seed whose warm, earthy aroma anchors the cooking of India, Mexico, the Middle East, and North Africa.
3
Curry Leaf
Murraya koenigii
Glossy, fragrant leaves from a small South Indian tree — utterly different from "curry powder," and the soul of Sri Lankan and South Indian tempering.
4
Fenugreek
Trigonella foenum-graecum
A small, square, mustard-yellow seed with a maple-celery aroma — the secret behind that "curry house" smell and the soul of Indian methi dishes.
5
Gochugaru
Capsicum annuum
Korean coarse red chili flake — bright, sun-dried, with a fruity sweetness behind the heat — and the defining color of kimchi.
6
Hibiscus
Hibiscus sabdariffa
Dried ruby-red calyces of a tropical mallow — steeped into the tart, cranberry-bright agua de jamaica, sorrel drink, and bissap of three continents.
7
Hungarian Paprika
Capsicum annuum
A spectrum of paprika grades from delicate sweet to fiery hot — the soul of Hungarian goulash, paprikash, and stuffed peppers.
8
Lavender Bud
Lavandula angustifolia
The dried purple buds of Mediterranean lavender — used carefully in herbes de Provence, shortbread, lemonade, and infused honey.
9
Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
A sweet, woody root with anise undertones — boiled down for candy in Scandinavia and chewed as a digestive across the Middle East.
10
Nutmeg
Myristica fragrans
The dark inner seed of a tropical fruit — warm, sweet, and intoxicating in eggnog, béchamel, and Mughal court cuisine.
11
Sichuan Pepper
Zanthoxylum bungeanum
The husks of a prickly ash berry whose alkamide molecules produce a tingling, electric numbness on the lips — the *ma* in Sichuan's signature *mala*.
12
Sumac
Rhus coriaria
The crushed deep-red fruit of a Mediterranean bush — sour, bright, almost lemony, dusted over kebabs, salads, and the za'atar spice blend.
13
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.
14
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.
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.
Other ways to filter
Try spices that start with U, or end with U. Or browse the full spices index.