Hispanic Spices Category

Annatto seeds don't have a lot of flavor, but they impart a rich reddish-orange color to stews and sauces. Look for the seeds, either whole or ground, in Latin American or Caribbean markets. To extract the color, steep the seeds in boiling water for about 20 minutes, then discard the seeds.

Dried cayenne peppers are sold either whole, crushed (called red pepper flakes), or ground into a powder called cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is fairly hot and has a smoky flavor.

These beans are the source of cocoa solid from which chocolate is derived

This is ground turmeric.

Red chile powder is made from hot red chiles that have been dried and ground. Don't confuse chile powder with chili powder, a mixed spice for making chili.

These are dried cayenne peppers that have been crushed. They're often sprinkled on pizza to add heat.

Tonka beans are the seeds of the Brazilian teak tree. They are black with a brown interior. Grated into desserts and stews in small amounts, they impart a complicated flavor mix of vanilla and almond. Tonka beans contain small amounts of coumarin, a chemical that can cause liver damage. It is now believed that in small amounts, it is not dangerous.