Generally I find they are. Herbs are leaves, flowers and (herbaceous) stems, spices are other parts. A plant might provide both a herb and a spice, but they will typically be different parts of a plant.
Saffron is from a flower and is considered a spice tho. It might be the way it’s processed that makes a difference. Regardless, when talking of the East India Company, the spice trade, and how that led to conquests, tea is always an important part of that story.
Tbf, wouldn’t coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar cane have been considered spices by then’s definition?
So were opium and cocaine
Poppy seeds are definetely also a spice tho. And coca is an herb, which I guess can also be used as a spice… Use of coca by native populations seems to have been mostly medicinal… But then again, that’s also how many spices were used until the 19th century.
Ironic because poppy seeds have very little flavor and coca literally numbs your tongue.
Shhh. That’s the secret ingredient.
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Yeah I’ll have that everything bagel
The more I think of it the more not fun that bagel sounds. I’ll have mine with just the Columbian sugar please
Tea would be a herb.
“Herb” and “spice” aren’t mutually exclusive tho.
Generally I find they are. Herbs are leaves, flowers and (herbaceous) stems, spices are other parts. A plant might provide both a herb and a spice, but they will typically be different parts of a plant.
Saffron is from a flower and is considered a spice tho. It might be the way it’s processed that makes a difference. Regardless, when talking of the East India Company, the spice trade, and how that led to conquests, tea is always an important part of that story.
Like coriander vs cilantro. Actually that’s the only example I know.