Spices vs. Herbs: What's the Difference?
Spices and herbs are common in most foods around the world
today. Both are used to flavor foods and some for medicinal
purposes. Herbs and spices have both been prominent throughout
human history. In earlier times, herbs and spices were
considered luxuries and only available for the use of the
wealthy. Herbs and spices were also traded frequently between
nations in medieval times. Many people do not know the
difference between an herb and a spice. There are many
similarities between the two, and some of the differences are
very subtle, but they are still valid.
The essential difference between an herb and a spice is where
it is obtained from on a plant. Herbs usually come from the
leafy part of a plant, and are usually dried. However, some
herbs can be used fresh. Spices can be obtained from seeds,
fruits, roots, bark, or some other vegetative substance. Spices
are not necessarily as fresh as some herbs can be. Herbs can be
found many places around the world, while spices are more
commonly found in the Far East and tropical countries. Herbs are
considered to have a few more uses than spices. For instance,
herbs have been used more frequently than spices in the medical
field. Also, herbs can and have been used to augment cosmetics
and preserve foods.
Some argue that there is no distinction between herbs and
spices, considering both have similar uses. However, a botanical
definition reveals that an herb is a plant that doesn't produce
a woody stem. It is common knowledge that in certain areas of
the United States, a dried herb is considered to be a spice.
This leads to more confusion because if a spice is simply an
herb, then there cannot be a difference between the two.
However, believing this is ignoring the fact that many herbs
tend to be leafy green substances and spices are found in plants
that are tropical in nature.
Because herbs and spices have so many uses and are great food
flavorings, they have played important roles throughout history.
The Portuguese navigator, Vasco Da Gama, sailed to India in
search of spices. Even Christopher Columbus described the types
of spices available in the "new world" to investors after he
landed. Herbs have been used throughout history for medicinal
purposes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbology (the
study of herbs for medical purposes) has been used for thousands
of years.
The debate between herbs and spices is ongoing. Some say that
there is no difference, while others maintain that they are both
completely different. Most learned scholars will say that the
difference between an herb and a spice is found in where the
herb or spice is obtained on the plant, and where that specific
plant can be found.