Category: Spice


  • Common Name: Coriander The name comes from the Greek “koriannon”, possibly related to “koris”, meaning bedbug, a reference to the strong scent of the fresh leaves, commonly known as cilantro. Scientific Name: Coriandrum sativum Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are…

  • Common Name: Chinese Black Cardamom Alternative names are cǎo guǒ (草果) or Red Cardamom. Scientific Name: Lanxangia tsao-ko (formerly Amomum tsao-ko) Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Chinese black cardamom is native to southern China and mainland Southeast Asia.…

  • Common Name: Black Cardamom It is alternatively called Brown Cardamom. Scientific Name: Amomum subulatum Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Native to the eastern Himalayas, black cardamom has been used throughout South Asia and neighboring regions since ancient times.…

  • Common Name: Cubeb Pepper An alternate name is Java Pepper. Scientific Name: Piper cubeba Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Cubeb pepper is native to Java, a large island in the Indonesian archipelago. It was known by Arab traders…

  • Common Name: Melegueta Pepper It is alternatively called Alligator Pepper, African Pepper, or Guinea Pepper. Scientific Name: Aframomum melegueta Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Melegueta pepper is native to West Africa, particularly the wet lowlands of modern-day Ghana,…

  • Common Name: Sichuan Pepper Scientific Name: Zanthoxylum bungeanum Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Despite the name, Sichuan pepper isn’t actually a “pepper” at all, but the dried husk of the prickly ash fruit. It is native to the…

  • Common Name: Long Pepper Scientific Name: Piper longum Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: The history of long pepper is often closely tied to the history of black pepper, as they share similar origins in the Western Ghats of…

  • Common Name: Pink Peppercorn Scientific Name: Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian) & Schinus molle (Peruvian) Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Despite the name, pink pepper is not related to black pepper, which is native to India, in any way. Instead,…

  • Common Name: Green Pepper Scientific Name: Piper nigrum Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new historical sources are examined. History: The pepper vine is native to the Western Ghats of India, where pepper berries have been picked and preserved at every stage of ripeness.…

  • Common Name: White Pepper Scientific Name: Piper nigrum Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: White pepper comes from the same plant as black pepper. The color difference comes from the way they are processed. While black pepper is picked…