Herbs + Spices

September’s NH Harvest of the Month: herbs and spices!

Both herbs and spices come from plants, but herbs are the fresh part of the plant while spice is the dried root, dried stalk, seed or dried fruit of the plant. Both are used as flavor enhancers and help distinguish the various cuisines of different cultures around the world.

Herbs and spices also have health promoting properties and are used as medicine in many cultures. The use of culinary herbs and spices to ease digestion and treat digestive disorders dates back to the time of Hippocrates in Ancient Greece and the first and second century in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine in India.

Curry powder includes black pepper, cardamom, cloves, coriander, cumin, fennel, nutmeg, and turmeric.

Garam masala includes black pepper, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, and nutmeg.

Ras El Hanout includes allspice, black pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, and turmeric.

This webpage includes a variety of educational materials, activities, recipes, and more about herbs and spices for use at home, in youth or family programming, in the classroom, and in the cafeteria. For more New Hampshire Harvest of the Month resources for September, click here.

Additional resources for herbs + spices:
“How to Cook With Herbs and Spices: The Definitive Guide,” To Table
“A list of common Indonesian herbs, spices & seasonings,” Cook Me Indonesian
“Essential Middle Eastern Spices, Herbs and Pantry Items,” Silk Road Recipes

Home Kit for Herbs + Spices

Teacher, families, youth programs, and anyone
interested in incorporating herbs and spices into activities, meals, and learning can use this home kit. This kit includes information, cooking tips, recipes,
mini-activities, and more.

Download here (in English)
Download here (in Spanish)
Download here (in French)

Poster for Herbs + Spices

Display your love for herbs and spices! Download the
New Hampshire Harvest of the Month poster at the
link below. The file is in PDF format and is sized to
print on 11×17 inch paper.

Download here

Videos about Herbs + Spices

“Herbs and Spices for Beginners: How to use Herbs
and Spices,” Vil and Zoe’s Galley
“How to use Herbs and Spices – for Kids!”
Cooking with Kids Inc.

Books about Herbs + Spices

The Spice Box by Meera Sriram
Masala Chai, Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca

Lesson Plan for Herbs + Spices

Developed in partnership with UNH Extension, NH Farm to School, and the UNH Education department, the Harvest Lessons lesson plan and curricular activities can be used by education professionals to incorporate herbs and spices into dynamic, long-lasting learning in the classroom and other education-based settings.

Lesson Plan Supplements
Click to download the lesson plan supplements to support learning through the activities in the lesson plan.
Iraq
Indonesia

Download here