8 Ways to Grow, Use, and Love Spices – GWC Mag

Spice cupboards are a pretty good standard in many kitchens around the world. There might be jars of spices that have been bought and used once in that experimental recipe only to be lost into the abyss at the back of the shelf. Then, others remain a mainstay, such as curry and chili powder.

The great thing is that many spices can be grown and harvested right in your backyard. Doing this makes it much more likely that you will love and embrace that spice just a little bit more and even get to know its true culinary and medicinal prowess!

Having a good grip on the spices in your cabinet can take your dishes to spectacular heights. Check out these OGP articles that celebrate the sensation of spices from eating, growing, blending, and sharing them.

1. Grow Spices

Most beginning gardens go all in for the heavyweight contenders. A tomato plant can provide pounds of food, as can cucumber vines and squash plants. A few pepper plants will put out dozens of peppers. A trellis of climbing green bean vines will stock a freezer full. It makes sense to start with getting as much food as possible. But, growing herbs and spices— for those of us who like to use them— provides serious value. A typical tiny jar of herbs or spices at the supermarket can easily run between 5-10 dollars. By a few of them and it adds up. Why not grow them at home? Read on to learn all about Growing Your Own Spices (Not Herbs) at Home.

2. Medicinal Meals

There are many spices believed to be so potent that they are argued to be as effective, if not more so, than prescription medicines. However, using spices for their preventative, medicinal qualities is much like using prescriptions in that it requires regularity. Having a bit of turmeric or garlic every day is much more effective than having it only when ill. To do that, it’s important to have many methods for introducing these spices into our diets. There are lots of recipes like the ones below from the Food Monster App that’ll provide us with unique, different flavors and meals to satisfy today’s complex palates. Learn about these 7 Healthy Spices For Making Medicinal Meals.

3. Medicinal Garden

Without much ado, we can incorporate more natural medicines into our first aid repertoire by planting medicinal herbs and spices in our home gardens, be they container gardens, edible lawns, or full-on homesteads. By and large, just about every edible plant comes equipped with a useful slurry of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients well-tuned for keeping the body sufficiently bolstered. However, there are some plants, especially certain herbs and spices, that excel in human health. Lots of them can be grown easily right at home. Here are 9 Herbs and Spices to Start a Medicinal Garden at Home.

4. Spices for Sniffles

When it gets to be the season of sniffles, it helps to have some tricks in the cupboard, and the right spices are just the ticket for clearing out the sinus, making the air just a bit more breathable. Before shoving over the counted nasal sprays up your nose, it might be worth having a look in your spice cabinet to see if there is anything more natural that can have you breathing more easily. Here is a list of amazing Spices That Clear Out the Sniffles and Do the Body Good.

5. Grow Ginger

Today we are going to learn to grow two of the world’s most notable spices, known as much for medicinal qualities as for instantly recognizable flavors: garlic and ginger. Like producing your own pineapples or mushrooms, growing your own garlic and ginger only requires normal planting pots and soil, the typical weekly trip to the supermarket, and a bit of interest and patience. Plus, it provides so much more than just food: a sense of accomplishment, a touch of knowledge, and another clutch of independence. Read on to learn How to Grow Your Own Ginger and Garlic.

6. Grow Galangal

The galangal rhizome (a root-like underground stem) also looks quite similar to ginger. Galangal does have smoother skin than ginger, which tends to have a papery cover and is lighter in color. Inside, galangal has a harder texture than ginger. While most of us know these spices from the rhizomes, galangal leaves are also edible and can be used both raw and cooked. The berries, shoots, and flowers are also edible. Take a look at this article to learn What Is Galangal and How to Grow It at Home.

7. Grow Turmeric

This superfood rhizome is a tropical plant in the Zingiberaceae family—the same as ginger. Even if you live in a temperate climate, it is still possible for you to grow some turmeric for yourself. It needs a good 10-month growing season, so unless you live in the tropics, you are going to have to give your turmeric a little help in the early days. Check out How to Grow, Harvest, and Use Fresh Turmeric. All you need is a pot, some soil, and a whole lot of sunshine.

8. Spice Blends

Making your spice blends is no exception. Though there are perfectly good spice blends for sale at the supermarket, making your own just means that you can tailor the flavors to suit your preferences. Maybe, you like your pumpkin spice less sweet and your cajun spice a little bit hotter! Buying individual jars of spices at the store to blend them wouldn’t be very economical. You need to buy your herbs and spices destined for blends in bulk or grow your own. A bonus to this is that you can help to cut down on food packaging. Why not try making your own Homemade Spice Blends for Every Culinary Occasion?

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