This page is a sortable table of plants used as herbs and/or spices. This includes plants used as seasoning agents in foods or beverages (including teas), plants used for herbal medicine, and plants used as incense or similar ingested or partially ingested ritual components.
Herb or spice | Species | Family | Plant form | Purposes | Parts used | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, ritual | leaves | |||
Black cohosh | Actaea racemosa | Ranunculaceae | perennial herb | medicinal | roots, rhizomes | ||
Horse chestnut | Aesculus hippocastanum | Sapindaceae | tree | medicinal | seed extract | toxic if eaten raw | |
Ethiopian cardamom | Aframomum corrorima | Zingiberaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | seeds | ||
Alligator pepper, mbongo spice, hepper pepper | Aframomum daniellii and related species | Zingiberaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, ritual | seeds | ||
Grains of paradise | Aframomum melegueta | Zingiberaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, ritual | seeds | sometimes also called alligator pepper | |
Alkanet | Alkanna tinctoria | Boraginaceae | perennial herb | medicinal, dye | root | ||
Garlic | Allium sativum | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | bulb, leaves, flowers | |||
Allium schoenoprasum | perennial herb | culinary | leaves | ||||
Aloe vera | Aloe vera | succulent perennial | medicinal | leaf interior, latex | |||
Lemon verbena | Aloysia citrodora | Verbenaceae | perennial subshrub or shrub | culinary, tea, medicinal, fragrance | leaves | ||
Galangal | Alpinia galanga and related species | Zingiberaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | rhizome | ||
Marsh mallow | Althaea officinalis | Malvaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | root, flowers, leaves | also used as a vegetable and to make candy | |
Black cardamom | Amomum subulatum and Lanxangia tsaoko | Zingiberaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | seeds, rhizome | ||
Angelica | Angelica archangelica | Apiaceae | biennial herb | culinary, medicinal | stem, leaves | also used as a vegetable | |
Dill | Anethum graveolens | Apiaceae | annual herb | culinary | seeds, leaves, flowers | ||
Chervil | Anthriscus cerefolium | Apiaceae | annual herb | culinary | |||
Celery | Apium graveolens | Apiaceae | biennial herb | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | leaves, seeds, roots | petiole and root used as vegetables | |
Horseradish | Armoracia rusticana | Brassicaceae | perennial herb | culinary | root | ||
Arnica | Arnica montana | Asteraceae | perennial herb | medicinal | flowers, roots | there are concerns about its toxicity | |
Wormwood | Artemisia absinthium | Asteraceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves, flowers | moderately poisonous | |
Tarragon | Artemisia dracunculus | Asteraceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves | ||
Mugwort | Artemisia vulgaris | Asteraceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, ritual | leaves, root | also used as a vegetable | |
Rooibos | Aspalathus linearis | shrub | tea | leaves | |||
Neem oil | Azadirachta indica | Meliaceae | tree | medicinal | fruits and seeds | also used as an insect repellent; leaves and flowers also eaten | |
Cinnamon myrtle | Backhousia myrtifolia | Myrtaceae | tree | culinary | oil | probably has antimicrobial properties; also used as insect repellent | |
Daisy | Bellis perennis | Asteraceae | perennial herb | tea, medicinal | leaves and flowers also eaten | ||
Barberry | Berberis vulgaris and related species | Berberidaceae | shrub | culinary | fruit | also used for jam | |
Beet juice | Beta vulgaris | Amaranthaceae | herbaceous biennial | medicinal, dye | root, leaves | primarily used as a vegetable | |
Annatto | Bixa orellana | Bixaceae | shrub | culinary, medicinal, ritual | seeds | ||
Fingerroot | Boesenbergia rotunda | Zingiberaceae | herbaceous annual | culinary, medicinal, dye | rhizome | also used as a vegetable | |
Borage | Borago officinalis | Boraginaceae | annual herb | culinary, tea, medicinal | leaves, flowers | also used as a vegetable | |
Brown mustard | Brassica juncea | annual herb | culinary, medicinal | seeds | |||
Marigold | Calendula officinalis | Asteraceae | short-lived perennial herb | tea, medicinal, dye | flowers, leaves | also eaten as salad | |
Tea, matcha | Camellia sinensis | shrub or small tree | culinary, tea, medicinal | leaves, twigs (rarely) | |||
White cinnamon | Canella winterana | Canellaceae | tree | culinary | bark | ||
Cannabis, weed, marijuana | Cannabis sativa and related species | Cannabaceae | annual herb | medicinal, ritual | flowers, extracts | also used as a fiber plant | |
Caper | Capparis spinosa | Capparaceae | shrub | culinary | buds, fruits | typically pickled; leaves also edible | |
Chili pepper, including various named cultivars like jalapeño and habanero; paprika | Capsicum annuum and related species | frost-tender perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | fruit | |||
Caraway | Carum carvi | biennial herb | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | fruits | |||
Khat | Catha edulis | Celastraceae | shrub or tree | medicinal | leaves | primarily used as a recreational drug | |
Cornflower | Centaurea cyanus | Asteraceae | annual herb | tea, medicinal, dye | flowers, rarely leaves and seeds | ||
Carob | Ceratonia siliqua | Fabaceae | tree | culinary | pods | used as a chocolate substitute | |
Khus, vetiver | Chrysopogon zizanioides | Poaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | root extract | ||
Chicory | Cichorium intybus | Asteraceae | somewhat woody perennial herb | culinary, tea | roots | also used as a vegetable (leaves and roots) and sugar substitute (roots) | |
Quinine | Cinchona officinalis and related species | Rubiaceae | tree | culinary (rarely), medicinal | bark | main culinary use is as tonic water | |
Cassia | Cinnamomum cassia | Lauraceae | tree | culinary, medicinal | bark, buds | often sold as cinnamon sticks | |
Indian bay leaf | Cinnamomum tamala | Lauraceae | tree | culinary, medicinal | leaves, bark (rarely) | ||
Cinnamon | Cinnamomum verum (and related species) | tree | culinary, medicinal (some species) | bark | |||
Zest, lemon/lime/orange/citron peel and leaves | Citrus limon and related species | tree | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | fruit peel, leaves | fruit usually eaten | ||
Butterfly pea, Cordofan pea | Clitoria ternatea | Fabaceae | perennial herbaceous vine | tea, medicinal,[1] dye | flower | ||
Blessed thistle | Cnicus benedictus | Asteraceae | annual herb | medicinal | |||
Coffee | Coffea arabica and related species | Rubiaceae | tree or shrub | culinary, tea, medicinal | seeds | brewed coffee is not usually referred to as a tea | |
Kola nut | Cola acuminata and Cola nitida (and sometimes related species) | Malvaceae | tree | culinary, medicinal, dye, ritual | seeds | the original source of "cola", though most colas no longer use actual kola | |
Cuban oregano | Coleus amboinicus | Lamiaceae | semi-succulent perennial herb | culinary, fragrance | leaves | ||
Myrrh | Commiphora myrrha and related species | Burseraceae | small tree or shrub | culinary, medicinal, fragrance, ritual | sap/resin | ||
Coriander (seeds, roots), Cilantro (leaves) | Coriandrum sativum | annual herb | culinary | seeds, leaves, roots | |||
Hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna and related species | Rosaceae | shrub or small tree | medicinal | fruit | fruit also eaten | |
Crocus sativus | short-lived perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, dye | stigma and style | ||||
Cumin | Cuminum cyminum | annual herb | culinary, fragrance | seeds | |||
Turmeric | Curcuma longa | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, dye | rhizome | |||
Lemongrass | Cymbopogon citratus and related species | frost-sensitive perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | leaves | |||
Epazote | Dysphania ambrosioides | Amaranthaceae | annual or short-lived perennial herb | culinary, tea | leaves | also used as a vegetable | |
Echinacea | Echinacea angustifolia and related species | Asteraceae | perennial herb | medicinal | roots, flowers, extracts | ||
Peyote, mescaline | Echinopsis pachanoi and related species, also Lophophora williamsii | Cactaceae | perennial succulent | medicinal, ritual | stems | also used as a purely recreational drug | |
Cardamom | Elettaria cardamomum and related species | Zingiberaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | seeds | ||
Vietnamese balm | Elsholtzia ciliata | Lamiaceae | annual[2] herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves, sometimes seeds | ||
Black cumin | Elwendia persica | Apiaceae | perennial[3] | culinary | seeds | root also used as a vegetable | |
Ephedra | Ephedra sinica and related species | Ephedraceae | shrub | medicinal, ritual (disputed) | legally restricted in the US | ||
Horsetail | Equisetum arvense | Equisetaceae | perennial herb | medicinal | also used as agricultural fungicide | ||
Culantro | Eryngium foetidum | Apiaceae | perennial or biennial herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves[4] | ||
Coca | Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense | Erythroxylaceae | shrub[5] | culinary (rare[6]), medicinal, ritual | leaves, occasionally seeds | source of the recreational drug cocaine | |
Eucalyptus | Eucalyptus globulus and related species | Myrtaceae | tree | tea, medicinal, fragrance | oil from leaves | ||
Asthma plant | Euphorbia hirta | Euphorbiaceae | annual herb | medicinal | |||
Wasabi | Eutrema japonicum | Brassicaceae | perennial herb | culinary | rhizome | ||
Asafoetida | Ferula foetida and related species | Apiaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | latex of rhizome or root | ||
Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | Apiaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | fruit; (less commonly) flowers, leaves | ||
Alder buckthorn | Frangula alnus | Rhamnaceae | tall shrub | medicinal | bark, sometimes fruit | ||
Fumitory | Fumaria officinalis | Papaveraceae | annual herb | medicinal | poisonous | ||
Garcinia cambogia | Garcinia gummi-gutta | Clusiaceae | tree[7] | culinary | fruit peel, extracts | medicinal use is heavily disputed | |
Kokam | Garcinia indica | Clusiaceae | tree | culinary | fruit peel | also used to make beverages, and as an oilseed | |
Wood avens | Geum urbanum | Rosaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | root | ||
Ginkgo | Ginkgo biloba | Ginkgoaceae | tree | medicinal | leaves | seeds also eaten | |
Ground-ivy | Glechoma hederacea | Lamiaceae | perennial creeper | culinary, medicinal | used as a food preservative and salad green | ||
Licorice | Glycyrrhiza glabra | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | root | |||
Cudweed | Gnaphalium uliginosum and related species | Asteraceae | annual herb | medicinal[8] | |||
Witch hazel | Hamamelis virginiana (and related species?) | Hamamelidaceae | shrub | medicinal | stems, bark, leaves | ||
Immortelle | Helichrysum italicum | Asteraceae | tender perennial | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | leaves, flowers | also called curry plant | |
Hibiscus, sorrel | Hibiscus sabdariffa | annual or perennial herb or woody subshrub | culinary, tea, medicinal, dye | flowers, roots (medicinal only) | leaves used as a vegetable | ||
Sea buckthorn | Hippophae rhamnoides and related species | Elaeagnaceae | shrub | medicinal, dye | fruit | sometimes used as a fruit | |
Hops | Humulus lupulus | Cannabaceae | perennial climbing herb | culinary, tea, medicinal | flowers | ||
St. John's wort | Hypericum perforatum | Hypericaceae | slightly woody perennial herb | medicinal | leaves, flowers | ||
Hyssop | Hyssopus officinalis | Lamiaceae | shrub | culinary, medicinal | leaves | ||
Guayusa | Ilex guayusa | Aquifoliaceae | tree | culinary, tea, medicinal, ritual | leaves | ||
Yerba mate | Ilex paraguariensis | Aquifoliaceae | tree | tea, medicinal | leaves, twigs | ||
Yaupon | Ilex vomitoria | Aquifoliaceae | shrub or small tree | tea, medicinal, ritual | leaves, stems | ||
Star anise | Illicium verum | tree | culinary | immature fruit | |||
Jasmine | Jasminum officinale | Oleaceae | perennial vine | culinary, medicinal, fragrance[9] | flowers | ||
Juniper berry | Juniperus communis and related species | small tree or shrub | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | cones | |||
Kencur | Kaempferia galanga | Zingiberaceae | perennial herb[10] | culinary, medicinal | rhizome | one of several plants known as galangal | |
Cǎoguǒ | Lanxangia tsaoko | Zingiberaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | fruit | ||
Bay leaf | Laurus nobilis and related species | tree | culinary | leaves | |||
Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia and related species | woody shrub | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | leaves, flowers | |||
Henna | Lawsonia inermis | Lythraceae | shrub or small tree | ritual | leaves | used as dye for skin, hair, and nails | |
Lovage | Levisticum officinale | Apiaceae | tall perennial herb | culinary | leaves, fruit | leaves and roots used as vegetables | |
Flax | Linum usitatissimum | Linaceae | annual herb | medicinal | seeds | also used as an oilseed and fiber crop | |
Koseret | Lippia abyssinica | Verbenaceae | shrubby herb | culinary, tea, medicinal | leaves | ||
Mexican oregano | Lippia graveolens | Verbenaceae | shrub or small tree | culinary | leaves | ||
Mexican bay leaf | Litsea glaucescens | Lauraceae | shrub or small tree | culinary,[11] medicinal[12] | leaves | ||
Aromatic litsea, may chang, mountain pepper, maqaw | Litsea cubeba | Lauraceae | shrub or small tree | culinary, medicinal,[13] fragrance | fruit (or leaf) essential oil | ||
Magnolia-bark | Magnolia officinalis | Magnoliaceae | tree | medicinal | bark | ||
Horehound | Marrubium vulgare | Lamiaceae | perennial herb | culinary, tea, medicinal | |||
Chamomile | Matricaria chamomilla (and related species) | Asteraceae | perennial herb | culinary, tea, medicinal, fragrance | flowers | ||
Tea tree oil | Melaleuca alternifolia | Myrtaceae | tree or tall shrub | medicinal, fragrance | oil from leaves | toxic if eaten | |
Lemon balm | Melissa officinalis | Lamiaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | leaves | ||
Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium | Lamiaceae | perennial herb | culinary (rarely), medicinal | leaves | ||
Mint | Mentha spicata (and related species) | perennial herb | culinary, tea, medicinal, fragrance | leaves | |||
Kanna | Mesembryanthemum tortuosum | Aizoaceae | succulent | medicinal | |||
Kratom | Mitragyna speciosa | Rubiaceae | tree | medicinal | leaves | used as a recreational drug | |
Bitter melon | Momordica charantia | Cucurbitaceae | frost-tender perennial vine | culinary, tea | fruit | also used as a vegetable | |
Bergamot | Monarda didyma and related species | Lamiaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves, buds | ||
Moringa | Moringa oleifera | Moringaceae | tree | culinary, medicinal | leaves, pods, seeds, root | used as a nutritional supplement, also eaten as a vegetable | |
Curry leaf | Murraya koenigii | Rutaceae | small tree | culinary, medicinal | leaves | fruit is also edible | |
Nutmeg (seed) and mace (seed coating) | Myristica fragrans (and related species) | tree | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | seed and seed coating | |||
Cicely | Myrrhis odorata | Apiaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves | roots and seeds are also edible | |
Lotus, sacred lotus | Nelumbo nucifera | Nelumbonaceae | perennial aquatic herb | tea, medicinal | leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, fruits | Most of the plant is used as food | |
Catnip | Nepeta cataria | perennial herb | medicinal | leaves | |||
Tobacco | Nicotiana tabacum and related species | Solanaceae | annual herb | medicinal, ritual | leaves, roots, extracts | primarily used as a recreational drug | |
Black caraway | Nigella sativa | Ranunculaceae | annual herb | culinary, medicinal | seeds | ||
Basil, Thai basil, lemon basil | Ocimum basilicum, including cultivars and hybrids | annual or tender perennial herb | culinary | leaves, flowers | Some cultivars and hybrids have very different flavor profiles from sweet basil | ||
Holy basil, tulsi | Ocimum tenuiflorum | Lamiaceae | perennial herb | culinary, tea, medicinal, ritual | leaves, stems, seeds | ||
Marjoram | Origanum majorana | cold-sensitive perennial herb or subshrub | culinary | leaves | |||
Oregano | Origanum vulgare | frost-tender perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves | |||
Ginseng | Panax spp | Araliaceae | perennial herb | culinary, tea, medicinal | root | ||
Poppy seed, opium | Papaver somniferum | annual herb | culinary (poppy seeds), medicinal (opium) | seeds (culinary), latex (medicinal) | |||
Passionflower | Passiflora incarnata | Passifloraceae | perennial vine | culinary, medicinal | flowers, roots, extract | Primarily used as a culinary fruit | |
Wild rue, Syrian rue, harmal | Peganum harmala | Nitrariaceae | perennial herb | medicinal, ritual | seeds, leaves | Not closely related to true rue; used as tattoo ink | |
Scented geraniums | Pelargonium graveolens and many related species | Geraniaceae | shrub | culinary, medicinal (some species), fragrance | leaves | ||
Avocado leaves | Persea americana var. drymifolia | Lauraceae | tree | culinary | leaves | fruit usually eaten | |
Vietnamese coriander | Persicaria odorata | Polygonaceae | perennial herb | culinary | leaves | believed to reduce libido | |
Boldo | Peumus boldus | Monimiaceae | tree | culinary, tea, medicinal | leaves | fruit is also edible | |
Parsley | Petroselinum crispum | biennial herb | culinary | leaves | root used as vegetable | ||
Allspice | Pimenta dioica | tree | culinary | unripe fruit, leaves | |||
Bay rum,West Indian bay leaves | Pimenta racemosa | Myrtaceae | tree | culinary, tea, medicinal, fragrance | leaves | ||
Anise | Pimpinella anisum | annual herb | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | seed | |||
Cubeb, tailed pepper | Piper cubeba | Piperaceae | perennial vine | culinary, medicinal, ritual | fruit | ||
Ashanti pepper | Piper guineense | Piperaceae | vine | culinary | fruit | ||
Long pepper | Piper longum | perennial woody vine | culinary, medicinal | fruit | |||
Kava | Piper methysticum | Piperaceae | shrub | medicinal, ritual | root | also used recreationally | |
Black pepper, green pepper, white pepper | Piper nigrum | perennial woody vine | culinary, medicinal | fruit, seeds | |||
Jamaican dogwood | Piscidia piscipula | Fabaceae | tree | medicinal | bark | toxic; also used to catch fish | |
Plantain | Plantago lanceolata | Plantaginaceae | perennial herb | tea, medicinal | leaves, seeds | leaves also eaten | |
Chinese bellflower, balloonflower, platycodon | Platycodon grandiflorus | Campanulaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | roots | also eaten as a vegetable | |
Guava | Psidium guajava | Myrtaceae | shrub or small tree | medicinal | Primarily used as a culinary fruit | ||
Quassia | Quassia amara and Picrasma excelsa | Simaroubaceae | shrub or tree | culinary, medicinal | extracts of stem, roots, bark, leaves, flowers, seeds | ||
Black mustard | Rhamphospermum nigrum | annual herb | culinary, medicinal | seeds | |||
Rose hips, rose petals | Rosa spp | Rosaceae | perennial woody shrub | culinary, tea, medicinal, fragrance | fruit, flowers | occasionally used as a fruit, often used to make jams, etc | |
Sorrel | Rumex acetosa | Polygonaceae | perennial herb | culinary | leaves | also used as a leafy vegetable | |
Rue | Ruta graveolens | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal, ritual | leaves | |||
Willow | Salix spp., especially Salix alba | Salicaceae | tree | medicinal | leaves, bark | ||
White sage | Salvia apiana | perennial woody shrub | medicinal, ritual | leaves, seeds | |||
Sage | Salvia officinalis | perennial woody subshrub | culinary, medicinal, ritual | leaves | |||
Rosemary | Salvia rosmarinus | perennial woody shrub | culinary, fragrance, ritual | leaves | |||
Clary sage | Salvia sclarea | Lamiaceae | biennial or short lived perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | oil, seed | ||
Elder | Sambucus spp | Adoxaceae | tree | culinary, tea, medicinal | flower[14] | berry is also eaten and used as a coloring agent; toxic in large quantities | |
Sandalwood oil | Santalum album and related species | Santalaceae | small tree | culinary, medicinal, fragrance, ritual | oil from wood | S. album is endangered from overuse | |
Sassafras, Filé powder | Sassafras albidum (and sometimes related species) | tree | culinary, tea, medicinal | leaves, roots | |||
Summer savory | Satureja hortensis | Lamiaceae | annual herb | culinary | leaves | ||
Winter savory | Satureja montana | Lamiaceae | perennial herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves | ||
Avaram | Senna auriculata | Fabaceae | tree | medicinal | leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, bark | ||
Sesame | Sesamum indicum | annual herb | culinary | seed | |||
Milk thistle | Silybum marianum | Asteraceae | biennial or annual herb | medicinal | seed | medicinal use highly disputed | |
White mustard | Sinapis alba | annual herb | culinary | seeds | also known as Brassica alba or B. hirta | ||
Alexanders | Smyrnium olusatrum | Apiaceae | biennial herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves, seeds | entire plant is edible | |
Kutjera | Solanum centrale | Solanaceae | small shrub | culinary | fruit | ||
Blue snakeweed | Stachytarpheta cayennensis | Verbenaceae | perennial herb or shrub | medicinal | leaves | invasive species | |
Chickweed | Stellaria media | Caryophyllaceae | annual herb | medicinal | edible, often used in Nanakusa-no-sekku | ||
Karvi | Strobilanthes callosa and related species | Acanthaceae | shrub | medicinal | leaf | leaves are poisonous | |
Aniseed myrtle | Syzygium anisatum | Myrtaceae | tree | culinary, tea | leaf | ||
Clove | Syzygium aromaticum | tree | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | flower bud | |||
Indonesian bay leaf,Indonesian laurel, Salam leaf, daun salam | Syzygium polyanthum | Myrtaceae | tree | culinary | leaves | ||
Costmary | Tanacetum balsamita | Asteraceae | perennial herb | medicinal | leaves | ||
Chocolate | Theobroma cacao | Malvaceae | small tree | culinary, tea,[15] ritual | seeds | also eaten as a candy | |
Ajwain, carom | Trachyspermum ammi | Apiaceae | annual herb | culinary, medicinal | fruit | ||
Blue fenugreek, blue melilot | Trigonella caerulea | Fabaceae | annual herb | culinary | seeds, pods, leaves | ||
Fenugreek | Trigonella foenum-graecum | annual herb | culinary, medicinal | leaves, seeds | |||
Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus | Tropaeolaceae | annual herb | culinary | unripe seed pods | leaves, flowers used as salad | |
California bay laurel | Umbellularia californica | Lauraceae | tree | culinary, medicinal | leaves | fruit, seed also edible | |
Valerian | Valeriana officinalis | perennial herb | medicinal | root | |||
Vanilla | Vanilla planifolia and related species | vine | culinary, medicinal, fragrance | fruit | |||
Chasteberry | Vitex agnus-castus | Lamiaceae | tree | medicinal | leaves, flowers, fruit | ||
Grains of Selim | Xylopia aethiopica (and occasionally related species) | Annonaceae | tree | culinary, medicinal | fruit, bark (medicinal only) | ||
Zanthoxylum armatum and related species | woody perennial, shrub or tree | culinary, medicinal | fruit, seeds, bark (medicinal only) | ||||
Ginger | Zingiber officinale | perennial herb | culinary, tea, medicinal | rhizome |
Culinary: used as a nutritionally minor flavoring component in foods or beverages
Tea: brewed in hot water to make a beverage (for primarily culinary rather than medicinal or ritual purposes)
Medicinal: used, either directly or as a simple extract such as a tea, to cause some physiological effect, usually to treat some ailment or disease
Fragrance: used to add a pleasant odor to food, medicine, or other consumed or partially consumed items (such as incense, candles, or lotions)
Dye: used to alter the color of food, medicine, or other consumed items
Ritual: ingested or partially ingested (eg used as incense) as an important component of a cultural or religious ritual