Ever wondered how those aromatic spices make their way from plants to your kitchen? Spices, unlike herbs, are most commonly dried and originate from various parts of plants like seeds, flowers, stems, barks, or rhizomes. So, whether you have your own garden or are simply just curious, here is a list of 12 common spices and how they’re harvested.
Allspice
Allspice grows on trees and produces clusters of berries. These berries are harvested while they’re still green. Then they’re dried in a safe, sunny spot until they turn their familiar reddish-brown color.
Cardamom
Cardamom plants take about three years to produce pods. The pods are harvested once they turn yellow and start to open. Then they’re dried in the sun and the inside seeds are removed. The seeds are used for the spice.
Cinnamon
Did you know that cinnamon actually comes from the inner bark of a tree? It takes about three years before the cinnamon bark is ready to be harvested. Once a branch is about the diameter one can hold in their hand, it is cut off and the outer layer is scraped off.
Clove
Cloves are actually flower buds. They are harvested when they’re about an inch tall, just before the flower opens. Then, they’re dried in the sun until they darken in color and weigh two-thirds less than when they were harvested.
Coriander
Coriander seeds are harvested by first cutting off the seed heads and then storing them upside down in a paper bag. The bag is left to sit in a dark, dry, and cool place for a few days. Once dried, the bag is shaken, allowing the seeds to fall out.
Cumin
Like coriander, cumin seeds are harvested by first cutting off the heads and then storing them in a paper bag. Once dried, the bag is shaken, which releases the seeds.
Fennel Seed
Fennel seeds are harvested by cutting off the umbel, a cluster of flower stalks, from the fennel plant after it flowers. The umbel is then dried indoors for a few days, allowing the seeds to fall out on their own.
Fenugreek
Like cardamom plants, fenugreek flowers also produce pods. These long green pods turn yellow when they’re ready to be harvested. The pods are collected, and the seeds are extracted from inside.
Ginger
Ginger is the root, or rhizome, of the plant. It can be harvested in two ways: by carefully removing dirt to cut off a piece while leaving the remaining plant intact, or by fully uprooting the plant, harvesting the ginger, and then replanting a portion of it. Check out this article on how to grow your own ginger at home.
Mustard Seed
Mustard seeds come from the plant’s flowers. They are harvested when the seeds turn pale brown and are left to dry on a flat surface.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg originates from a fruit tree in Indonesia. While the fruit is edible, it is mostly grown just for the seed inside. It is harvested when the fruit splits open to reveal the seed. The fruit dries until the seed inside rattles when shaken; then the seed is removed.
Turmeric
Did you know turmeric is part of the ginger family? Zingiberaceae is the scientific name for the ginger family. Turmeric is harvested like ginger.
Now that you know how these spices are harvested, check out why we include them in our Fiber & Spice supplement!
