Find out what spices were used

Find out what spices were used - Vintage TV set placed on stone barrier

I have recently been ordering food from a place that has a fried rice that I like a lot. A lot a lot. The ingredients are pretty basic, which makes me think that the spices used in this dish are what makes it taste so incredibly good (though of course things like the method of preparation may also matter quite a bit).

I should really go to the restaurant and ask them about this dish. However, this does make me wonder:

Is there a way for me to take a prepared batch of this dish and find out what spices were used? The spices I do not know yet are the ones I care about the most.

(I'm very much afraid the answer will simply be no, but it doesn't hurt to ask, does it?)



Best Answer

Yes, theoretically, and no for practical purposes.

Here's the Yes part:

If you have access to a chemistry lab, you can certainly analyze the dish for the presence of specific molecules that would indicate the presence of specific spices. For example, the presence of "cinnamaldehyde" would indicate that cinnamon was used.

Here's the No part:

First, you would need to do individual tests for each possible distinct seasoning molecule. Given the universe of spices, that's only feasible if you already have a pretty good idea of what's in the dish and are just verifying.

Second, some seasoning molecules are changed by cooking, making them less recognizable. Sugar particularly can change into dozens of different compounds depending on the cooking process.

Third, some seasoning molecules are just not that indicative of what the original seasoning was. For example, the presence of salt, glutamate, and various soy compounds would indicate the use of soy sauce, oyster sauce, or miso, but which kind of sauce exactly? That's leaving aside the difficulty of distinguishing various starches and sugars. Also, some spices come from the same plant (e.g. coriander seed and cilantro) and thus will be biochemically indistinguishable, even though their effect in a recipe is distinct.

So: ask the restaurant. It'll be way easier.




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Quick Answer about "Find out what spices were used"

  • Allspice. Allspice tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, which is why it is named “allspice”. ...
  • Anise. Anise gives a sweet licorice flavour to foods. ...
  • Cardamom. ...
  • Chinese five spice. ...
  • Cinnamon. ...
  • Cloves. ...
  • Coriander. ...
  • Cumin.


What were spices sometimes used for in the past?

Over the years, spices and herbs were used for medicinal purposes. They were also used as a way to mask unpleasant tastes and odors of food, and later, to keep food fresh (3). Ancient civilizations did not distinguish between those spices and herbs used for flavoring from those used for medicinal purposes.

What is the oldest spice?

Cinnamon is an ancient spice that predates the recorded history of culinary applications of all spices. As such, it has been dubbed the \u201cworld's oldest spice\u201d, which may be a warranted title, knowing that because it was found to be included in Egyptian embalming recipes.

What are the 2 most used spices in the world?

The infographic above shows that, surprisingly, cumin is the most popular spice in the world, and coriander (or cilantro) is the most commonly used herb. In Europe and Africa, garlic is the most common among all dishes considered, and\u2014no surprises here\u2014oregano is common in the Mediterranean regions.

What are the 16 spices?

16 Spice Rack Essentials
  • Onion Powder.
  • Garlic Powder.
  • Black Pepper (I like to use a grinder)
  • Real Salt.
  • Oregano Leaves.
  • Rosemary Leaves.
  • Basil Leaves.
  • Thyme Leaves.




All You Need to Know About FOOD SPICES \u0026 HERBS + SPICES EVERY COOK SHOULD HAVE! - ZEELICIOUS FOODS




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Images: Anete Lusina, Anete Lusina, Laker, Maria Orlova