World of spices

They are the berries of a little evergreen bush, that spontaneously grow in the northern hemisphere. It has a delicate aroma and its bittersweet flavour is excellent for giving flavor to dishes of game, above all, deer and wild boar. It´s used a lot in pickles, sauces, roasts, choucroüte. Moreover, it is an essential ingredient in the elaboration of gin.

For Romans it was a vitality symbol and it has been one of the main ingredients in a lot of magic potions. The tips of its leaves are consumed. It is very tasty with soft cheeses, omelettes, sheafood, sauces, soups, herrings, salads, cucumber, beef...

This is a Mediterranean plant. The Greeks and Romans used the laurel leaves to make crowns for their heros in war or sport. It goes well with a lot of meat and potatoes dishes, as well as with vegetable, fish and pasta.

There are a lot of mint varieties (around 600) and they are used is salty dishes as well as in sweet ones. The most common varieties in cooking are “piperita peppermint” and mint. “Piperita peppermint” is used in plants infusions, salads, lemon desserts and cakes.

This is not actually a pepper, but rather the rose berries from a South-American tree. It´s very difficult to come across it outside of its countries of origin. Its flavour is a little bit resinous and it can be added to almost every dish, more for its colour than for its flavour.

This is one of the oldest known spices and its weight was paid in gold. To obtain  black pepper, the grains are collected when they are still green and they are dried out. While they are drying the grains turn black. White pepper comes from grains which are already ripened and of a red color. Thay are soaked in water during 3 or 4 days and the outer layer...

This is one the most important culinary plants in the European cuisine. It has a nice taste and combines very well with other aromatic spices. It helps to digest fatty food, so its use with lamb, pork or duck is especially appropriate. It heightens the flavour of tomato sauces, soups, vegetables, cooked dishes and breads.