Spices are at the core of our faith. A daily offering of no fewer than eleven spices were burned on the golden altar in the Mishkan and Beit HaMikdash. Spices fueled the circumnavigation of the globe. Over the years, the use of spices in cooking has shifted from masking the unpleasant taste of meat going bad to enhancing entire dishes with delicate, robust, intricate or simple flavors. They help define the profiles of world cuisines. It’s no mistake that the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life.”
I offer a class in herbs and spices where I talk non-stop for ninety minutes; there’s simply no time for practical demonstration. And that covers what’s most commonly found in the kitchen, which is maybe a third of what’s out in the world.
In keeping with the tradition of my Bean and Legume Chart, Fish Chart and Meat Chart, I now present my Hebrew English Spice Chart.
English Name | Hebrew Name | Hebrew Transliterated |
---|---|---|
Allspice | פלפל אנגלי | Pilpel Angli |
Angelica | אנג'ליקה | Angelica |
Anise | אניס | Anis |
Annatto | עץ הליפסטיק | etz halipstick |
Asafoetida | חלתית | Chaltit |
Barberry | ברביריס | Barberis |
Basil, sweet | בזיליקום | Bazilicum |
Bay leaf | עלה דפנה | Aleh dafna |
Borage | בורג' | Borage |
Black cardamom | הל שחור | Hel shachor |
Caraway | קימל | Kimmel |
Cardamom | הל | Hel |
Carob | חרוב | Charuv |
Catnip | נפית החתולים | Nafit Hachatulim |
Cassia | כנמון | Kinamon |
Cayenne pepper | פלפל חרוף | Pilpel Charif |
Celery seed | זרעי סלרי | Zarei Celery |
Chervil | תמכה | Tamchah |
Chicory | עולש | Ohlesh |
Chili pepper | אבקת צילי | Avkat Chili |
Chives | עירית | Irit |
Cicely | סייסלי מתוק | Sissli Matok |
Cilantro | כוסברה | Kuzbarah |
Cinnamon | קנמון | Kinamon |
Clove | ציפורן | Tziporen |
Coriander seed | זרעי כוסברה | Zarei Kuzbarah |
Cumin | כמון | Kamon |
Dill herb or weed | שמיר | Shamir |
Fennel | שומר | Shumar |
Fenugreek | חילבה | Chilbeh |
Garlic | שום | Shum |
Ginger | זנגביל | Zangvil, ginger |
Grains of paradise | גרגר גן עדן | Gargayr Gan Eden |
Horseradish | חזרת | Chazeret |
Hyssop | אזוב | Ayzov |
Jasmine flowers | יסמין | Yasmin |
Juniper berry | ערער | Ar-ar |
Kaffir lime leaves | עלה קפיר ליים | Aleh Kafir Lime |
Lavender | לבנדר | Lavender |
Lemon Balm | מליסה | Melissa |
Lemon Verbena | לואיזה | Luiza |
Lemongrass | עשב לימון | Esev Limon |
Licorice, liquorice | שוש | Shush |
Lovage | עשב לובי | Eysev luvi |
Mace | מוסקט, משייה | Muskat |
Marjoram | מיורם | Mayoram |
Mastic | מסטיק | Mastik |
Mint | נענע | Nana |
Mustard | חרדל | Chardal |
Mustard, black | חרדל שחור | Chardal shachor |
Nigella | קצח | Ketzach |
Nutmeg | מוסקט | Muscat |
Oregano | אורגנו | Oregano |
Paprika | פפריקה | Paprika |
Parsley | פטרוזיליה | Petrozillia |
Pepper | פלפל | Pilpel |
Peppermint | מנתה | Menta |
Poppy Seed | פרג | Pereg |
Rosemary | רוזמרין | Rozmarin |
Rue | פיגם | Paygam |
Safflower | חריע | Chariah |
Saffron | זעפרן | Zafran |
Sage | מרווה | Marvah |
Salep | סחלב | Sachlav |
Savory, summer | צתרה | Tzatrah |
Sorrel | חמציץ | Chamtzitz |
Spearmint | נענע | Nana |
Star Anise | כוכב אניס | Kochav Anise |
Sumac | סומק | Sumak |
Szechuan Pepper | פלפל סיני | Pilpel Sini |
Tarragon | טרגון | Taragon |
Thyme | תימין | Timin |
Turmeric | כורכום | Kurkum |
Vanilla | וניל | Vanil |
Wasabi | ואסאבי | Vasabi |
Watercress | גרגר הנחלים | Gargar Hanachalim |
Wormwood, absinthe | לענה | La'anah |
Marc, how could I cook without all your helpful charts. Love the Meat and Fish Charts. Next, I need a printable Oven Conversion chart and what to do all those symbols mean on the Oven?
This is a very useful chart. Todah Rabah.
Excellent! I was just wondering what is coriander in Hebrew. Nice timing!
I remember being at the shuk, wanting to know the names of spices! (and how to interpret the price tags). This is a nice site to explore: thanks Ruti!
Coriander is known here in the Arabic name Cusbara(כוסברה) The Hebrew name, which nobody uses, is Gad Hasade (גד השדה)
Practical vocab you are not likely to find in ulpan!
thanks! now I can move away from only using pepper, salt, garlic & paprika (just kidding).
Very helpful, but I cant help wondering nunc quod sunt omnia aromata dicitur in Latine?
Now that they are all spices it is said in Latin (Google translation!!!!)
I saw a recipe that called for Ras el-Hanout — a spice blend. Ever heard of it or seen it in Jerusalem?
Yes. Ask for it at the spice store that I talk about in my Machane Yehuda post. http://cooking.marcgottlieb.com/2012/05/machane-yehuda/
Wonderful! I just found found you. Thanks alot
An excellent chart – thanks!
thank you this is ever so helpful