Comprehensive and detailed compilation of spices vocabulary and basic flavors in English

Flavors in English 

Example

Sweet

/swiːt/

(Adjective)

The chocolate cake was incredibly sweet. 

Sweet-and-sour 

/swiːt ənd saʊər/ (Adjective)

The sweet-and-sour sauce had the perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess. 

Salty /ˈsɔːlti/ (Adjective)

The popcorn was too salty for my taste. 

Sour /saʊər/ (Adjective)

The lemonade was refreshingly sour. 

Bitter /ˈbɪtər/ (Adjective)

The dark chocolate had a bitter taste. taste. 

Cheesy /ˈtʃiːzi/ (Adjective)

The pizza was loaded with gooey, cheesy goodness that stretches with every bite. 

Bland /blænd/ (Adjective)

The plain rice was a bit among, so I added some herbs and spices to enhance its flavor. 

Spicy /ˈspaɪsi/ (Adjective)

The curry was incredibly spicy. 

Garlicky

/ˈɡɑːlɪki/

(Adjective)

The garlicky aroma of the roasted vegetables filled the kitchen. 

Smoky

/ˈsmoʊki/

(Adjective)

The barbecue had a rich, smoky flavor, imparted by the slow cooking process over wood chips.

Sugary

/ˈʃʊɡeri/

(Adjective)

The sugary Glaze on the donuts makes them irresistible. 

Minty

/ˈmɪnti/

(Adjective)

The minty freshness of the toothpaste leaves a cool sensation in my mouth after brushing. 

Acrid

/ˈækrid/

(Adjective)

The acrid smell of burnt toast filled the air. 

Hot

/hɒt/

(Adjective)

The hot chili peppers added a fiery kick to the salsa. 

Sickly

/ˈsɪkli/

(Adjective)

The chocolate cake was sickly sweet. 

Unseasoned

/ʌnˈsiːzənd/

(Adjective)

The unseasoned chicken flavor, highlighting the importance of using herbs and spices in cooking. 

Salty Spices vocabulary

Example

Salted

/ˈsɔːltɪd/

(adjective)

I prefer salted butter on my toast.

Briny

/ˈbraɪni/

(adjective)

The oysters had a briny taste. taste. 

Sodium /ˈsoʊdiəm/

(noun)

Some people need to watch their sodium intake for health reasons. 

Pickled

/ˈpɪkəld/

(adjective)

Pickled cucumbers are a popular side dish. 

Cured

/kjʊrd/

(adjective)

The cured ham had a savory and salty taste. 

Fish sauce

/fɪʃ sɔːs/

(noun)

Thai cuisine often uses fish sauce for its salty and savory taste.

Soy sauce

/sɔɪ sɔːs/

(noun)

A few drops of soy sauce can add depth to many dishes.

Sea salt

/siː sɔːlt/

(noun)

I prefer to use sea salt instead of regular table salt in my cooking. 

Spicy Spices vocabulary

Example

Chili powder

/ˈtʃɪli ˌpaʊdər/

(noun)

The chili powder added a warm and earthy spice to the stew. 

Red pepper flakes

/red ˈpepper fleɪks/

(noun)

A sprinkle of red pepper flakes gave the pizza a subtle heat. 

Paprika

/pəˈprika/

(noun)

A sprinkle of paprika on the roasted vegetables added color and a hint of spiciness. 

Cayenne pepper

/kaɪˈɛn ˈpɛpər/

(noun)

A pinch of cayenne pepper turned the soup into a spicy delight. 

Black pepper

/ink ˈpɛpər/

(noun)

A grind of black pepper elevates the taste of the creamy pasta. 

White pepper

/waɪt ˈpɛpər/

(noun)

The white pepper added a subtle heat to the chicken soup. 

Hot sauce

/hɒt sɔs/

(noun)

Anna drizzled hot sauce over her tacos. 

Wasabi

/wəˈsɑbi/

(noun)

The sushi came with a dollop of wasabi.

Ginger

/ˈdʒɪndʒər/

(noun)

The ginger infused the stir-fry with a warm and slightly spicy flavor.

Curry powder

/ˈkʌri ˌpaʊdər/

(noun)

The curry powder in the dish creates a complex blend of spices and heat. 

Cumin

/ˈkjuːmɪn/

(noun)

The cumin seeds infused the rice with a warm and smoky aroma. 

Aromatic Spices vocabulary

Example

Basil

/ˈbeɪzəl/

(noun)

The basil leaves added a fresh and aromatic note to the pasta sauce. 

Mint

/mɪnt/

(noun)

A sprig of mint in the iced tea provides a refreshing and cool flavor. 

Rosemary

/ˈroʊzmɛri/

(noun)

The roasted chicken was infused with the fragrant taste of rosemary. 

Thyme

/taɪm/

(noun)

A pinch of thyme enhances the flavor of the roasted vegetables. 

Oregano

/əˈrɛɡənoʊ/

(noun)

The pizza was sprinkled with oregano for an extra burst of herbal goodness.

Cilantro/Coriander /sɪˈlæntrə/, /ˌkɒriˈændər/

(noun)

The cilantro in the salsa added a bright and citrusy flavor. 

Dill

/dɪl/

(noun)

The dill in the potato salad gave it a fresh and tangy taste. 

Parsley

/ˈpɑrsli/

(noun)

A sprinkle of chopped parsley added a touch of brightness to the dish.

Sage

/seɪdʒ/

(noun)

The buttery sauce with a hint of sage elevated the flavor of the butternut squash. 

Lemongrass

/ˈlɛmənˌɡræs/

(noun)

The lemongrass in the Thai soup added a citrusy and aromatic element. 

Vanilla

/veˈnɪlə/

(noun)

The vanilla extract in the cake batter fills the kitchen with a sweet and comforting aroma. 

Cinnamon

/ˈsɪnəmən/

(noun)

A sprinkle of cinnamon on the warm apple pie provided a cozy and familiar scent. 

Clove

/kloʊv/

(noun)

The clove-studded ham had a warm and spicy fragrance. 

Nutmeg

/ˈnʌtmɛɡ/

(noun)

Grated nutmeg on top of the eggnog gave it a warm and festive touch. 

English sour seasoning

Example

Vinegar

/ˈvɪn.ɪ.ɡər/

(noun)

A drizzle of balsamic vinegar added a tangy twist to the salad. 

Lemon/Lime

/ˈlɛmən/ /laɪm/

(noun)

Squeezing fresh lemon or lime juice over fish enhances its natural flavors.

Tamarind

/ˈtæmərɪnd/

(noun)

The tamarind paste in the curry lent it a distinctive sour and sweet taste. 

Yogurt

/ˈjoʊɡərt/

(noun)

The yogurt in the smoothie added a creamy texture and a hint of tartness.

Buttermilk

/ˈbʌtərmɪlk/

(noun)

The buttermilk in the pancake batter contributed to their light and fluffy texture. 

Fried Spices vocabulary

Example

Vegetable oil

/ˈvɛdʒtəbəl ɔɪl/

(noun)

Alex prefers to use vegetable oil when stir-frying vegetables. 

Olive oil

/ˈɒlɪv ɔɪl/

(noun)

Afterwards, my mother put the sardines into the cans, adding olive oil. 

Peanut oil

/ˈpiːnʌt ɔɪl/

(noun)

Peanut oil is commonly used in Asian cuisine. 

Corn oil

/kɔːn ɔɪl/

(noun)

When baking, you can substitute butter with corn oil. 

Sunflower oil

/ˈsʌnflaʊər ɔɪl/

(noun)

Sunflower oil is a versatile cooking oil that works well for sautéing and baking due to its mild taste. 

Avocado oil

/ˌævəˈkɑːdoʊ ɔɪl/

(noun)

For a nutritious and flavorful dressing, whisk together avocado oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. 

Flour

/flaʊər/

(noun)

The chef coated the chicken wings in a light dusting of flour before frying them. 

Cornmeal

/ˈkɔːrnmiːl/

(noun)

The catfish was coated in a flavorful cornmeal crust for a crispy texture. 

Breadcrumbs

/ˈbrɛdˌkrʌmz/

(noun)

The recipe called for rolling the fish filets in breadcrumbs. 

Batter

/ˈbætər/

(noun)

The chef prepared a thick, creamy batter for the onion rings. 

Crispy coating mix

/ˈkrɪspi ˈkoʊtɪŋ mɪks/

(noun)

The chicken tenders were coated in a special crispy coating mix. 

Seasoned flour

/ˈsiːzənd flaʊər/

(noun)

To enhance the flavor of the fried chicken, the cook used seasoned flour with a blend of herbs and spices. 

Sweet Spices vocabulary

Example

Sugar

/ˈʃʊɡər/

(noun)

The baker measured out a cup of sugar to add sweetness to the cookie dough. 

Honey

/ˈhʌni/

(noun)

A drizzle of golden honey was the perfect finishing touch on the warm, buttered biscuits. 

Cinnamon

/ˈsɪnəmən/

(noun)

The apple pie was sprinkled with a generous amount of cinnamon. 

Chocolate

/ˈʧɒklet/

(noun)

The double-layered chocolate cake was rich and indulgent. 

Caramel

/ˈkærəmɛl/

(noun)

The chef drizzled warm caramel sauce over the creamy vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert. 

Molasses

/məˈlæsɪz/

(noun)

The gingerbread cookies had a deep, molasses-infused flavor. 

Agave nectar

/əˈɡɑːvi ˈnɛktər/

(noun)

The health-conscious chef used agave nectar as a natural sweetener in the fruit salad dressing. 

Date syrup

/deɪt ˈsɪrəp/

(noun)

The Middle Eastern dessert was drizzled with date syrup. 

Bitter Spices vocabulary

Example

Black coffee

/ink ˈkɒfi/

(noun)

Enhance the richness of your beef stew by adding a shot of strong, black coffee. 

Dark chocolate

/dɑːrk ˈʧɒklɪt/

(noun)

Add a touch of sophistication to your chili con carne by incorporating finely grated dark chocolate. 

Walnuts

/ˈwɔːlnʌts/

(noun)

The toasted walnuts added a bitter and earthy crunch to the salad. 

Turmeric

/ˈtɜːrmərɪk/

(noun)

The curry dish was infused with turmeric.