Spices that start with S

List of Spices That Start With S

1

Saffron

Crocus sativus

The dried red stigmas of the autumn crocus — gram-for-gram the world's most expensive spice and a defining note of paella, biryani, and bouillabaisse.

2

Sansho

Zanthoxylum piperitum

Japanese prickly ash — a citrusy, lip-tingling cousin of Sichuan pepper served alongside grilled eel and dusted on yakitori.

3

Sesame Seed

Sesamum indicum

One of the oldest oilseeds in cultivation — small, nutty, and indispensable from Middle Eastern tahini to Japanese furikake.

4

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*.

5

Smoked Paprika

Capsicum annuum

Spanish pimentón dried over oak smoke for weeks — the campfire-deep red powder behind chorizo, paella, and patatas bravas.

6

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.

7

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.

8

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.