Ultimate Spice Guide: Mexican

It is safe to say that spices are essential in our everyday cooking. That's why I decided to create this basic spice guide to educate you on the basic spices used in every popular cuisine. With the aid of this visual aid powered by Cooksmarts.com, discover the essential spices of Mexican cuisine.

Let's get to know the spices one by one:

• Coriander - also called cilantro, chinese parsley, and dhania. Considered as both herb and spice, it is usually used an aromatic for Asian, European, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Both it's seed and leaves are used in various forms adding flavor and aroma with every dish. Known also as the oldest spice being mentioned in the Bible as well as its seeds has been found in ruins dating back to 5000 B.C. 
• Cumin - sometimes spelled as "cummin", this spice belongs in the parsley family. Native to the Mediterranean, cumin is hotter to the taste, lighter in color, and larger than caraway, another spice it's sometimes confused with. It has a distinctive bitter flavor and strong, warm aroma due to its abundant oil content.  
• Oregano - also called wild marjoram in some parts of Europe, this spice belongs in the mint family. Aside from its balsamic and aromatic flavor, it is also used in traditional herbal medicine due to its antibacterial properties.
• Garlic Powder -  a common component of spice mix usually made from dehydrated garlic granulated to a desired size. 
• Cinnamon - the only spice in the list that is being used on both sweet and savory dish. Obtained from the inner bark, this sweet and fragrant spice is also used in traditional medicine due to its anti-clotting and anti-microbial properties.
• Chili Powder - this spice is a combination of various chili peppers, pulverized, and mixed along with other spices such as cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and salt. This adds pungency and piquancy among the dishes.

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