Cuisine
Spices in American cooking
American cooking leans on sweet, pungent, and warm notes: Pickling spice, Mulling spice, Cajun seasoning, Onion powder, Pumpkin spice, and Crab boil seasoning sit at the center, with the wider set on this page rounding out the repertoire. Warm baking spices and barbecue rubs, from pumpkin spice to chili powder.
No. 83Blend
Cajun seasoning
Savory, peppery, smoky, warm heat
warm·pungent·smoky
No. 84Blend
Crab boil seasoning
Savory, celery-forward, peppery, briny
herbal·pungent
No. 102Spice
Garlic powder
Savory, pungent, mellow, toasty
pungent·earthy
No. 105Blend
Mulling spice
Warm, sweet, citrusy, gently pungent
warm·sweet·citrusy
No. 103Spice
Onion powder
Sweet, savory, concentrated onion
pungent·sweet
No. 104Blend
Pickling spice
Warm, pungent, sweetly aromatic, sharp
warm·pungent·sweet
No. 67Blend
Pumpkin spice
Warm, sweet, cozy, baking-spiced
warm·sweet
No. 87Spice
Vanilla
Sweet, creamy, floral, warm
sweet·floral
Common questions
- What spices are used in American cooking?
- Pickling spice, Mulling spice, Cajun seasoning, Onion powder, Pumpkin spice, and Crab boil seasoning, among others.
- What flavors define American cooking?
- The notes that stand out most are sweet, pungent, and warm, read from the flavor profiles of the spices listed here.
- What is the strongest spice in American cooking?
- Pickling spice is one of the strongest here: warm, pungent, sweetly aromatic, sharp. Add it early and taste as you go.