They say variety is the spice of life, but where would we be without spices? Even a little table salt and pepper makes our food more palatable and tasty. Garlic is another common seasoning that adds a lot of oomph to our dishes. Without spices, food tastes bland and uninteresting. Add a little spice, and it becomes delectable.

With more opportunities to try the foods of other cultures, we are getting more familiar with new spices or spice combinations. Today, it is almost common to eat Chinese on one night and Italian the next. You may try Indian food for lunch and then have Japanese for dinner. Regional spices can be found on the supermarket shelves more than they were ten years ago. As we become more familiar with them, we begin to use them in our own cooking.

Keeping Spices

Can you remember the last time you bought spices? They do not have an indefinite shelf life. As time goes by, they lose color and flavor. To keep your spices as fresh as possible, store them someplace away from oxygen, heat, moisture, and bright light. As convenient as it may be to keep them near your stove, try to keep them away from your kitchen appliances. Heat and steam can cause dampness, which will shorten their shelf life. Airtight containers made of glass or tin will help preserve the volatile oils in the spice, keeping their flavor intact.

Did you know that not all spices are created equal? Each spice has a different life span. Be sure to go through the spices in your cupboard occasionally to check their quality. Examine the color and aroma. Has either of them faded? Whole spices will keep longer than ground spices. It also depends on which plant part the spice comes from.

Whole spices like peppercorns or cinnamon sticks belong to the following guidelines: Flowers and leaves are good for a year. Barks, roots and seeds can remain in your cupboard for two years or more. For spices that have been, ground, leaves, seeds and barks last about six months. Roots will hold out for a year.

Using Ethnic Spices

Special spices give ethnic recipes their unique flavors, and you may end up buying some you are not familiar with. For example, if you want to make a chicken spaghetti recipe. You may need some cayenne or seasoned salt to give it a flavorful boost.

Likewise, for a Moroccan dish, you may require spices such as cinnamon, allspice, coriander, and cumin. For a Cajun dish, you would want to keep sweet paprika, hot paprika (yes, they are different), and both black and white pepper on hand. Japanese spices may include shiso, chili flakes, and mustard seeds.

Have fun exploring the vast world of spices. You are sure to find something new that you really like. Keep an open mind when trying spices. For example, you may find that Afghani food is really good, while maybe; Thai food is not your favorite. Unless you give them a try, you will never know.