This post will be short and fragrant, but those who have just arrived in Italy and are not yet familiar with the language may find it useful.
Then again, maybe you are a slow food fan who wants to cook something up while you are here in Italy.
Whatever the reason, you may find it useful to know the names of the common herbs and spices you can find in Italy’s shops and supermarkets.
Herbs and Spices in Italian and English
- Alloro – Bay leaves
- Aglio – Garlic
- Aneto – Dill
- Cannella – Cinnamon
- Chiodi di Garofano – Cloves
- Zenzero – Ginger
- Noci Moscate – Nutmeg
- Origano – Origano (The pronunciation is a little different – it’s ‘Orig-un-oh’, not ‘Orig-ah-noh’)
- Pepe Nero – Black pepper
- Peperoncino – Chilli powder
- Prezzemolo – Parsley
- Rosmarino – Rosmary
- Salvia – Sage
- Timo – Thyme
Another word you may come across and is helpful to know is ‘macinato’, which means ‘ground’ in Italian.
There, hope that helps.
If you want to know anything else, just ask.
