Best European Spice Blend and Seasoning Types
Za'atar is a traditional spice blend with Middle Eastern and Levantine origins. The ingredients used in za'atar vary from region to region, and the list often includes the wild za'atar herb (hyssop, growing throughout the Levant), marjoram, thyme, oregano, coriander, cumin, toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and salt.
The sumac imparts a lemony, citrusy flavor, oregano gives a slight bitterness, while marjoram gives notes of sweetness. The spice blend is commonly sprinkled over soups, dips, bread, meat, rice, pasta, vegetables, or rice dishes.
Sharena sol is the most popular Bulgarian spice mix that has been used in Bulgarian cuisine for centuries. It has a pleasant, mild, and aromatic flavor that enhances the taste of many meals. The key ingredients in sharena sol include paprika, salt, thyme, cumin, basil, dried fenugreek leaves, and summer savory.
It is recommended to put sharena sol on bread, potatoes, fries, vegetables, or cheese. Interestingly, although sharena sol is translated as colorful salt, salt isn't a required ingredient and can be omitted from the spice mix.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Khmeli suneli is a fragrant Georgian spice blend including fenugreek, coriander, peppercorns, dill, mint, marigold petals, and bay leaves. This spice blend is characterized by its combination of warm, bitter, nutty, and grassy flavors.
It is traditionally used in various stews and meat dishes, but khmeli suneli also provides a depth of flavor to roasted vegetables and bean soups.
Pestèda is a traditional seasoning blend that hails from the ancient village of Grosio, consisting of garlic, salt, pepper, and aromatic herbs such as leaves of dwarf alpine yarrow or musk yarrow, wild thyme, juniper berries, or cinnamon.
Its name means beaten, referring to the method of preparation that involves pounding the combination of herbs and spices in a mortar to produce a highly aromatic mixture, characterized by an intense, slightly spicy flavor. Due to its distinctive aroma and flavor, pestèda has spread throughout the whole region of Valtellina over the years, yielding numerous variations on the traditional blend with some calling for the addition of wine (such as Sasella), brandy, or grappa.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Quatre épices is a traditional spice blend that's used to season and flavor a wide variety of foods such as roulades, soups, terrines, stews, gratins, and even sausages. The name of the blend means four spices, and those are black or white pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.
Some spices may be replaced or added in the mix, including allspice and cinnamon. The most common versions of the blend focus on the pepper, and those peppery notes are backed up by the pungency and sweetness of the other spices.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Vadouvan is a French-style curry mix consisting of ingredients such as shallots, onion, cumin, garlic, turmeric, cardamom, curry leaves, black mustard, black pepper, and fenugreek. All of the ingredients are traditionally dried and pounded into a coarse spice blend.
Vadouvan is used in a variety of dishes featuring poultry, seafood, and vegetables, but it can also be added to salads. This spice blend is sometimes made into a paste by mixing it with oil and water.
Samardala salt is a traditional spice mix originating from Stara Zagora. The spice mix consists of only two ingredients – salt and samardala (Nectaroscordum siculum bulgaricum or Allium siculum), also called Bulgarian honey garlic, a spice that belongs to the allium family and is endemic to the Balkans.
This spice mix is often used on sandwiches with butter or minced meat, pizza, bread, potatoes, or hard-boiled eggs, and it adds a specific and slightly bitter and salty layer of flavor to the foods that it's used with. The ratio of samardala to salt should be 1:1.
Chaimen is an authentic Armenian spice blend that provides tons of flavor to numerous meat and vegetable dishes, as well as casseroles. However, it is mostly used for curing meats and sausages, although it can also be used in soups, stews, or as a dipping sauce for flatbreads.
The blend is typically prepared with ingredients such as fenugreek, paprika, salt, black pepper, cumin, allspice, garlic, and cayenne pepper. When used as a marinade, the dry spice blend is added to tomato paste, parsley, crushed garlic cloves, and either olive oil or yogurt.
Best European Spice Blend and Seasoning Producers
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
BEST Pepper Field Herbs and Spices
Rubin Paprika is a renowned producer of paprika-based seasonings based in Szeged, Hungary. Their product range includes high-quality offerings such as sweet and hot ground paprika, smoked paprika, paprika seed oil, chili flakes, and organic (BIO) paprika, available in both sweet and hot varieties.
Rubin Paprika is dedicated to preserving traditional production methods while adhering to modern quality and food safety standards. Their products are highly regarded both domestically and internationally, contributing to the global recognition of Hungarian culinary traditions.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2023
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2023, 2021
BEST Rubin Paprika Herbs and Spices
Kadode Kampot Pepper UK specializes in producing high-quality Kampot pepper. The company sources its pepper from Kampot province in Cambodia, known for its ideal growing conditions for pepper plants. Kadode Kampot pepper is certified with Geographic Indication (GI) status, ensuring its origin and quality are officially recognized.
The company focuses on sustainable farming practices and fair trade, aiming to support local farmers and the community.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
BEST Kadode Kampot Pepper UK Herbs and Spices
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2023, 2022
BEST Chilli No.5 Limited Herbs and Spices
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2022, 2021
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2021
BEST Fajszi Paprika Manufaktúra Herbs and Spices
Eaten Alive is a London-based producer specializing in spice blends and seasonings. The company is known for its fermented hot sauces and kimchi, utilizing natural fermentation processes to create complex and unique flavors. Eaten Alive emphasizes the use of high-quality, natural ingredients in its products.
The company was founded by chefs who bring their culinary expertise to the creation of their spice blends and seasonings.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2022
BEST Eaten Alive Herbs and Spices
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2022
BEST Hodi Paprika Herbs and Spices
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2023, 2022
BEST Capsicana Herbs and Spices
Chipeno GmbH is a Swiss company that specializes in producing spice blends and seasonings. Their products cater to a variety of culinary needs, offering both traditional and innovative flavors. Chipeno GmbH focuses on quality, utilizing selected raw materials to ensure exceptional taste and freshness in their offerings.
The company serves both retail and wholesale markets.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023
BEST Spiced Sussex Condiments
Best European Spice Blends and Seasonings
Fresh Green Kampot Pepper with a hint of Fleur de Sel by .pepper..field is a gourmet culinary product that blends the vibrant, aromatic quality of fresh green Kampot pepper with the subtle, complex flavor of Fleur de Sel, a premium hand-harvested sea salt.
This combination highlights the distinct, zesty spice of the pepper while enhancing its natural flavors with a delicate burst of minerality from the salt. The product is celebrated for its exceptional quality, thanks to the traditional farming methods and meticulous hand-picking of the peppercorns in Kampot, Cambodia, a region renowned for its superior pepper.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2022
Rubin Paprika Hot Smoked Hungarian Paprika Powder is produced by Best of Hungary Ltd., a company known for offering high-quality Hungarian food products. This specific paprika powder is made from premium Hungarian peppers that are carefully smoked over oak wood to impart a rich, smoky flavor with a hot, piquant kick.
The vibrant red powder not only enhances the taste of various dishes but also adds an appealing color. This paprika is a staple in Hungarian cuisine and works well in stews, marinades, and as a garnish for a variety of dishes.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2023
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2021
Capsicana Argentinian Sizzling Steak Garlic and Paprika Seasoning Mix 28g is a flavorful spice blend created by Capsicana Ltd. This seasoning mix is designed to infuse your steak with vibrant Argentinian flavors, predominantly featuring garlic and paprika.
It aims to make your steak dishes more exciting by adding a burst of savory and slightly smoky taste. Capsicana Ltd. is known for producing various spice mixes inspired by Latin American cuisines.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2023
Capsicana Mexican Tasty Taco Seasoning Mix is a product created by Capsicana Ltd., a company known for its range of Latin American-inspired culinary products. This seasoning mix is designed to bring authentic Mexican flavors to home-cooked meals. It typically contains a blend of various spices and herbs that aim to enhance the taste of tacos, giving them a rich and aromatic profile.
Capsicana Ltd. is known for prioritizing quality and using carefully selected ingredients in their products to ensure a high standard of flavor and authenticity.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
Fermented Jerk Seasoning by Eaten Alive is a flavorful, condiment known for its unique blend of spices and fermented ingredients. This product brings a tangy and spicy kick typical of traditional jerk seasoning, enhanced through the fermentation process which adds depth and complexity to its flavor profile.
Eaten Alive specializes in producing fermented foods and this seasoning is likely crafted to be versatile, suitable for marinating meats or adding a punch to various dishes.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
Hodi smoked very hot red pepper flakes are a premium product made by Hodi Paprika Ltd. These flakes are crafted for those who enjoy an intense heat level in their dishes. The peppers are smoked to enhance their flavor, adding a rich, smoky depth that complements the natural spiciness.
This specific product is targeted at gourmet and culinary enthusiasts who appreciate high-quality, flavorful ingredients.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
Fajszi premium handmade extra hot paprika powder, produced by Paprika Manufaktúra Kft., is renowned for its exceptional quality and intense heat. This product is carefully crafted using traditional methods, ensuring that each batch maintains the authentic flavor and aromatic profile prized in Hungarian cuisine.
The paprika is made from specially selected pepper varieties grown in the Fajsz region, which is known for its ideal soil and climate conditions for producing high-quality peppers. The peppers are handpicked, sun-dried, and meticulously ground to create a fine, vibrant red powder that enhances any dish with its robust taste.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
Fajszi premium handmade hot smoked paprika powder is produced by Paprika Manufaktúra Kft, a company known for its dedication to traditional methods and high-quality ingredients. This product is crafted from carefully selected peppers, which are then slow-smoked over a blend of select woods to achieve a deep, rich flavor profile.
The labor-intensive process ensures each batch has a distinct smokiness that complements its bold heat.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
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