On spices

[Mayabird]

This is something I've been thinking about for a while. Spices go well with certain types of foods. Oregano is great for pasta dishes, for instance. Some spices probably don't go well with some foods, like, ice cream and cayenne pepper (I haven't tried, but I don't think they'd go together). The right combination of spices can really make a huge difference.

I was thinking that this could be a thread where people can state what spices work in what kinds of dishes or with what kinds of foods. I haven't found any good websites with lists of spices before, and I'd rather not have to rediscover on my own what works and what doesn't.

[LadyTevar]

The problem with herbs/spices and relating them to food, is that so many of them are multi-purpose. I've been racking my brain trying to find a website with some guidance, but honestly the ones I find aren't that good either.
And the ones for Medieval Foods have some odd choices.

But, let's see what I can do. First, let's break up spices into categories. Once you know which category a spice falls into, then it's easier to know what foods go best with it.

Sweet Spices: These are the ones that go best with desserts and other sweet-tasting dishes. (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves)
Savory Spices: These are the classics that appear in nearly every cuisine, regardless of nationality. (Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme)
Speciality Spices: Those that add that extra something to a dish. (Ginger, Oregano, CurryPowder, LemonGrass.)

Using Maya's example of Oregano, you know it's good with pasta, but what you don't know is that there are two types of Oregano: Mediterranean and Mexican (also called Cilantro). True Oregano stars in the majority of Italian and Greek cuisines, while Cilantro is best for Tex-Mex meals because it has a touch more bite to it. So, if you're making tacos, Oregano would have the meat tasting odd.

I'll try to find more and break the spice categories down. But for now, here's a list of the most commonly used Spices as found on Wiki.