What it is for
They give the character. Same technique, same ingredient, a different trio of spices — and the dish moves to another cuisine entirely. Most of their aroma molecules are volatile.
Where it catches you out
Volatile ones go in last, sturdy ones first. Mint and basil after the heat; bay and cinnamon right at the start.
The knack
Do not substitute dried herbs for fresh ones by equal weight; the dried product has less water and this table is for dried marjoram.
Storage and health
How to keep it, and who it suits.
Keeping it
Keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark cupboard for 1-2 years.
Gluten-free
Plain dried marjoram contains no gluten grain.
Glycaemic index
This ingredient carries no meaningful carbohydrate, so it has no glycaemic index. On its own it will not move blood sugar; what you eat alongside it decides that.
Same family
Ga
GarlicAllicin forms 60 s after cutting
Cu
CuminCuminaldehyde · fat soluble
Cf
Chilli flakesCapsaicin dissolves in fat, not water
Ci
CinnamonCinnamaldehyde 60–75%
Bp
Black pepperPiperine · aroma flees once ground
Mi
MintMenthol is volatile · add off the heat
Ba
BasilLinalool · blackens with heat, add last
Sa
SaffronCrocin is water soluble · 0.1 g is enough
Su
SumacpH 3.1 · dry acid that adds no water
By
Bay leafEugenol · only opens up with long cooking
Ks
Bulb onion89.1% water · 40 kcal
K5
Red onionAnthocyanin · less sulphur
Ts
Spring onion89.8% water · 32 kcal
My
Parsley87.7% water · 36 kcal
De
Dill86% water · 43 kcal
Lk
Lemon peel81.6% water · 47 kcal
Cr
Nigella seeds6% water · 387 kcal
Is
Urfa pepper?
Kek
Dried oregano9.9% water · 265 kcal
Rt
Fennel seeds8.8% water · 345 kcal
At
Anise seeds9.5% water · 337 kcal
Yn
Allspice8.5% water · 263 kcal
K3
Cloves9.9% water · 274 kcal
Ze
Ground turmeric12.9% water · 312 kcal
Zn
Fresh ginger78.9% water · 80 kcal
Mh
Mahleb?
Da
Mastic resin?
Za
Za’atar (sesame blend)?
Kir
Sweet paprika11.2% water · 282 kcal
Ht
Ground mustard seed5.3% water · 508 kcal
Kis
Coriander seeds8.9% water · 298 kcal
Cv
Soapwort root?
Vc
Vanilla pod?
Kak
Cocoa powder (unsweetened)3% water · 228 kcal
GarlicAllicin forms 60 s after cutting
Cu
CuminCuminaldehyde · fat soluble
Cf
Chilli flakesCapsaicin dissolves in fat, not water
Ci
CinnamonCinnamaldehyde 60–75%
Bp
Black pepperPiperine · aroma flees once ground
Mi
MintMenthol is volatile · add off the heat
Ba
BasilLinalool · blackens with heat, add last
Sa
SaffronCrocin is water soluble · 0.1 g is enough
Su
SumacpH 3.1 · dry acid that adds no water
By
Bay leafEugenol · only opens up with long cooking
Ks
Bulb onion89.1% water · 40 kcal
K5
Red onionAnthocyanin · less sulphur
Ts
Spring onion89.8% water · 32 kcal
My
Parsley87.7% water · 36 kcal
De
Dill86% water · 43 kcal
Lk
Lemon peel81.6% water · 47 kcal
Cr
Nigella seeds6% water · 387 kcal
Is
Urfa pepper?
Kek
Dried oregano9.9% water · 265 kcal
Rt
Fennel seeds8.8% water · 345 kcal
At
Anise seeds9.5% water · 337 kcal
Yn
Allspice8.5% water · 263 kcal
K3
Cloves9.9% water · 274 kcal
Ze
Ground turmeric12.9% water · 312 kcal
Zn
Fresh ginger78.9% water · 80 kcal
Mh
Mahleb?
Da
Mastic resin?
Za
Za’atar (sesame blend)?
Kir
Sweet paprika11.2% water · 282 kcal
Ht
Ground mustard seed5.3% water · 508 kcal
Kis
Coriander seeds8.9% water · 298 kcal
Cv
Soapwort root?
Vc
Vanilla pod?
Kak
Cocoa powder (unsweetened)3% water · 228 kcal