Anise seeds give a unique flavor to dishes and excellent anti-bloating digestive properties, which counteract abdominal discomfort. They promote well-being after meals and stimulate the appetite. They are the basis of herbal preparations that calm coughs. As aromatic and tasty seeds, they can be used in milk for breakfast, together with muesli or in a mix of dried fruit.
Cinnamon in bark is the spice preferred by cooks to give a particular flavor to their recipes. In healthy terms, cinnamon helps keep blood sugar in balance, helps prevent cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, triglycerides and ulcers. Tip: do not cook it too long, it can become bitter.
Cassia ground cinnamon has an intense flavor that goes well with salty foods and flavors meat. In the Middle East it accompanies stews, lamb, goose and duck meat; in Thailand pork and dried fruit; in Morocco it is combined with pigeon pastilla; in Yorkshire it is excellent in braised ham. A pinch of cinnamon is perfect in mashed potatoes, ravioli and pumpkin risotto. It gives a unique aroma to vegetable pies or natural yoghurt.
Chinese five spice powder is a traditional spice blend, used in Chinese cuisine. This mix gives the dishes a light hint of minty taste, which still includes all the five flavors in cooking: sweet, sour, salty, spicy and bitter. A special taste to flavor meat and fish dishes, marinades and exotic sauces.
Ingredients:
star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, fennel.
This aromatic herb gives seeds with a delicate, acidic flavor with a pleasant citrus aftertaste, much appreciated in oriental and Mexican cuisine. Coriander seeds are included in many recipes to give taste, aroma and benefits thanks to the many antioxidants. They protect cells from oxidative damage, help digestion and the body's purifying action.
Coriander is an aromatic herb with a sour flavor and sweet notes, with a citrus aftertaste that evokes lemon. In its ground version, coriander is used as a spice in the kitchen in a practical way for many recipes. It is also known for the benefits of its antioxidants which protect cells from oxidative damage, help digestion and cleanse the body.
The cumin plant, is one of the oldest medicinal plants, it produces seeds that have a spicy flavor and a rich and singular aroma. Some research is also testing its slimming power. The scientists involved compared the effects of using cumin extracts on overweight and blood sugar.
Ground fenugreek is a tasty spice with many beneficial properties. Used in cooking for many recipes, with its pungent and slightly bitter taste, it enriches spicy mixtures, first and second courses. It has an emollient action on the digestive system, and positively stimulates the metabolism of carbohydrates and triglycerides.
The beneficial properties of juniper berries were known from the time of the ancient Egyptians. They were in fact used for embalming and for disinfecting rooms. The numerous active ingredients contained in juniper berries give them important therapeutic benefits. Widely used in folk medicine to treat various ailments.
Like all oil seeds, they are a source of fat and protein but are also a reserve of manganese, calcium, Omega 6 and vitamin E. They are also used as a natural remedy for anxiety and as an anti-stress food, a feature that makes them a natural ally in alternative medicines. Finally, poppy seeds help lower blood cholesterol.
Wild fennel seeds are considered a particular aromatic spice in cooking, to enrich the flavor of our dishes with a rather sweet taste reminiscent of anise. They are used as ingredients in the home preparation of bread, crackers and breadsticks. Excellent flavorings for recipes with pork, boiled potatoes, gratinated vegetables and other Mediterranean cuisine specialties.
Wild fennel flowers are the small inflorescences that form the umbrella of the plant, highly appreciated as a condiment in cooking. They are collected at the beginning of flowering, dried and then "shelled" in order to obtain this fragrant spice, with a complex and balanced taste. The fennel flower is particularly suitable for flavoring pork, mushrooms, aubergines, olives and typical dishes such as snails in a pan.
