SPICE ALMANACA visual guide to flavor
Flavor family

Sweet

The clearest sweet spices and herbs are Coriander seed, Advieh, Ras el hanout, Allspice, Baharat, and Cassia, most of them carrying floral and warm notes alongside. Naturally sweet aromatics for both savory and dessert: fennel, anise, cinnamon.

No. 82Blend

Advieh

Warm, floral, sweet, fragrant

warm·floral·sweet
No. 16Spice

Allspice

Warm, like clove and cinnamon

warm·sweet·pungent
No. 46Spice

Amchur

Sour, tangy, fruity, faintly sweet

citrusy·sweet
No. 74Spice

Ancho chile

Sweet, raisiny, mild, gently smoky

smoky·sweet
No. 34Spice

Anise

Sweet, strong licorice, warm

sweet
No. 52Blend

Baharat

Warm, peppery, sweet, aromatic

warm·sweet·pungent
No. 25Herb

Basil

Sweet, peppery, clove and anise

herbal·sweet
No. 4Spice

Cassia

Warm, hot, sweet, boldly spicy

warm·sweet·pungent
No. 62Herb

Chervil

Delicate, sweet, faintly anise, fresh

herbal·sweet
No. 29Blend

Chinese five spice

Warm, sweet, faintly licorice

warm·sweet
No. 3Spice

Cinnamon

Warm, sweet, delicate, gently woody

warm·sweet
No. 13Spice

Clove

Warm, sweet, pungent, almost numbing

warm·sweet·pungent
No. 2Spice

Coriander seed

Citrusy, floral, warm, lightly sweet

citrusy·floral·warm
No. 18Spice

Fennel seed

Sweet, warm, gentle licorice

sweet·herbal
No. 31Spice

Fenugreek

Bitter, earthy, maple-sweet aroma

bitter·earthy·sweet
No. 12Blend

Garam masala

Warm, sweet, aromatic, deeply layered

warm·earthy·sweet
No. 38Spice

Gochugaru

Smoky, fruity, sweet, moderate heat

smoky·sweet·pungent
No. 7Spice

Green cardamom

Floral, citrusy, sweet, cooling, aromatic

floral·citrusy·sweet
No. 94Spice

Kashmiri chili

Mild, fruity, deep red, gently warm

sweet·pungent
No. 77Herb

Lavender

Floral, perfumed, sweet, faintly piney

floral·sweet
No. 15Spice

Mace

Warm, sweet, delicate, faintly floral

warm·sweet
No. 26Herb

Marjoram

Sweet, mild, floral, gently warm

herbal·sweet
No. 101Herb

Mint

Cool, sweet, green, menthol

herbal·sweet
No. 14Spice

Nutmeg

Warm, sweet, nutty, woody

warm·sweet·nutty
No. 103Spice

Onion powder

Sweet, savory, concentrated onion

pungent·sweet
No. 79Herb

Pandan

Grassy, vanilla, nutty, floral

floral·nutty·sweet
No. 5Spice

Paprika

Sweet, mild, fruity, gently warm

sweet·warm
No. 73Spice

Pink peppercorn

Sweet, fruity, mild, faintly peppery

sweet·floral·pungent
No. 67Blend

Pumpkin spice

Warm, sweet, cozy, baking-spiced

warm·sweet
No. 51Blend

Ras el hanout

Warm, floral, complex, deeply layered

warm·floral·sweet
No. 6Spice

Smoked paprika

Smoky, sweet, deep, gently warm

smoky·sweet·warm
No. 17Spice

Star anise

Sweet, warm, strong licorice

sweet·warm
No. 88Spice

Tamarind

Sour, fruity, date-like, tangy

citrusy·sweet
No. 37Herb

Tarragon

Sweet, anise, grassy, delicate

herbal·sweet
No. 47Spice

Urfa biber

Smoky, raisiny, dark, gently warm

smoky·sweet·pungent
No. 87Spice

Vanilla

Sweet, creamy, floral, warm

sweet·floral

Common questions

What are sweet spices?
Coriander seed, Advieh, Ras el hanout, Allspice, Baharat, and Cassia, among others.
What other flavors do sweet spices carry?
The notes that stand out most are floral and warm, read from the flavor profiles of the spices listed here.
What is the strongest sweet spice?
Cassia is one of the strongest here: warm, hot, sweet, boldly spicy. Add it early and taste as you go.
What is the mildest sweet spice?
Ancho chile sits at the gentle end: sweet, raisiny, mild, gently smoky. It seasons without taking over.