spice
Aromatic food additive
Spice is any of various aromatic plant substances used to flavor food—pepper, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and dozens more.
The word extends to anything that adds interest or excitement: variety is the spice of life, Their rivalry added spice to the competition.
To spice something up is to make it more lively or flavorful.
In drug slang, spice refers to synthetic cannabinoids sold as incense or herbal blends. (Capitalized Spice was a nickname for members of the British pop group Spice Girls.)
Substance improving food taste
- cuminGround aromatic seed
- turmericYellow rhizome spice
- corianderHerb yielding fragrant seeds
- paprikaGround dried pepper
oregano · thyme · basil · rosemary · ginger · cinnamon · nutmeg · cloves
Traveling group with goods
- merchantOne who sells wares
- bazaarOpen-air merchant district
- commodityFungible traded good
- exportForeign-bound sale
import · route · exploration · colonial · Indies · Moluccas · Zanzibar · Venice
Having much warmth
- fieryIntensely hot or passionate
- burningCombustion in progress
- pepperyHaving sharp, hot flavor
- capsaicinChili heat compound
jalapeño · habanero · cayenne · chili · sriracha · wasabi · horseradish · kick
Appetizing, not sweet
- pungentSharply strong-smelling
- aromaticPleasantly strong-smelling
- zestyLively in flavor
- tangySharp and lively-tasting
peppery · fiery · sharp · biting · warm · earthy · smoky · fragrant
Keen enjoyment or peel
- kickFoot-delivered strike
- zingVivid energy or sharpness
- pizzazzLively, attention-grabbing quality
- enlivenMake more spirited
invigorate · pep · punch · spark · thrill · variety · interest · liven
Emitting pleasant smell
- aromaticPleasantly strong-smelling
- scentedHaving added fragrance
- perfumedTreated with fragrance
- pungentSharply strong-smelling
whiff · bouquet · nose · essence · redolent · wafting · heady · intoxicating
seasoning
Substance improving food taste
paprika · oregano · thyme · basil · rosemary · ginger · cinnamon · nutmeg · cloves · cardamom
caravan
Traveling group with goods
export · import · route · exploration · colonial · Indies · Moluccas · Zanzibar · Venice · pepper
hot
Having much warmth
capsaicin · jalapeño · habanero · cayenne · chili · sriracha · wasabi · horseradish · kick · tingle
savory
Appetizing, not sweet
tangy · peppery · fiery · sharp · biting · warm · earthy · smoky · fragrant · bitter
zest
Keen enjoyment or peel
enliven · invigorate · pep · punch · spark · thrill · variety · interest · liven · stimulate
fragrant
Emitting pleasant smell
pungent · whiff · bouquet · nose · essence · redolent · wafting · heady · intoxicating · musky
curing
Restoring health or preserving
marinade · cure · seasoned · infused · preserved · salting · smoking · jerky · corned · pastrami
synthetic
Produced artificially, not natural
- cannabinoidHemp plant compound
- K2Earth's second-highest peak
- herbalRelating to medicinal plants
- gastronomygastronomy, gourmet food, fine dining, tasting menu, degustation
- DuneArrakis, Dune, Fremen, melange, Paul Atreides
- psychoactive compoundsMDMA, DMT, mescaline, psilocybin, ketamine
- ingredientsflour, eggs, salt, pepper, sugar
- Middle EastIraq, Baghdad, Cairo, Iran, Jordan
- Sci-Fi/Fantasywand, spell, potion, rune, incantation
spiceblandness
Absence of distinctive qualities
tastelessness · insipidity · flatness · mildness · weakness
- spicy foodDishes with heat
- spice upMake more interesting
- pumpkin spiceWarm autumn seasoning blend
- spicing upMaking less bland
- sugar and spiceTraditional girlhood ingredients
- spiced upMade more interesting
spicy, spices, spiced, spice rack, spicing, spiceless, spicer, spice up, unspiced