Spicy--this is what you get after you sprinkle cinnamon or cassia into a dish or when you bite into that juicy and friary red hot habanero. Spices add that unique zing to any kind of food, which is why almost every culture has a food tradition that involves spices in one way or another. Indian cuisine, for example, is famous for its spicy dishes. The same is true for Korean and Mexican foods. Even European and Mediterranean cooks love their majorams and paprikas. A popular traditional meal of Spanish pochero will never be complete without its special spicy sauce of mashed eggplants.

Spices are defined as any part of a plant, such as root, bark, or a leaf, that is added to food to enhance its flavor. Spicy nuts, spicy mustard, and virtually any other example of spices are also added to prolong the shelf life of food due to their anti-bacterial properties. The use of spices is not limited to food, however. Spices are also used in cosmetics, in perfume and even in religious rituals.

Difference between spices and herbs

Some people may mistake spices for herbs and vice versa. Herbs, however, are almost always in a form of leaves, good examples of which are leaves of basil and oregano. Although they also add flavor to any dish, herbs are often used fresh and are usually added in chopped forms. Spices, on the other hand, are usually sold in dried and chopped or crushed forms, although you can also buy them whole and crush them into powder at home.

Types of spicy condiments

Different types of spices include seed and fruit spices such as fennel or mustard. Other examples include arils such as mace, barks, dried buds, roots and rhizomes and resins.

Benefits of eating spicy foods

Spicy foods not only make your taste buds sizzle, but are also good for health. Spicy dishes contain capsaicin and curcumin, substances that make spices what they are. These substances also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the ability to help speed up the body's metabolism. These make them useful for pain relief, coughs, colds, and weight management. Research has shown that capcaisin is effective at suprresing appetite and can help people lower their intake of fats, protein and calories.

Where to find spicy recipes

Spicy recipes are available in many cooking books and are also available online. In fact, there is such a huge amount of information about spicy foods, spicy dishes, and spicy recipes that it will be difficult at first to know where you want to start. To get started, check out through websites that focus on spices, or join discussions about spices and get to know other spice lovers. These places are good sources of advice with people who can help show you the ropes.

To grind or not to grind

Some people who like their spicy foods often face one common dilemma, especially if they like to cook their own spicy recipes. Some question which process is better, to buy grounded spices or to buy spices whole and ground them yourself? Experts advise buying ground spices when these spices are consumed quickly in large amounts. Ground spices are pretty volatile and can lose their flavor in a year or two.

For common household use, whole spices are recommended. Spices, such as spicy nuts, spicy mustard, or spicy peppers can be brought whole and ground at home using a mortar and pestle. Larger amounts can be processed using a coffee mill after the mill has been thoroughly cleaned of any coffee residue. If some spices, such as anise and cinnamon, are troublesome to grind at home, you can buy ground versions of these spices at smaller quantities.