Spices you don't like...

steve knight · Feb 18, 2013

Hello all;

Like many newbies, I've been experimenting with rubs & sauces, and I've found one spice that's on quite a few recipes that I just don't care for:.....

CUMIN

I guess it's just me, but cumin smells like a sweaty old man,.. and if I'm not mistaken, I can smell it in chili powder, and in allspice..

Am I the only one who feels this way?...what spices do you tend to steer clear from?

bakedbean1970 · Feb 18, 2013

I agree with your view of cumin but you could say the same about garlic. I always use cumin in my chili. Its the taste of the combination that makes it good. My preffered spices for rubs are salt,pepper,paprika,raw sugar,garlic powder and onion powder.

kathrynn · Feb 18, 2013

Chipotle.......that stuff tears me up. Run away from anything that has it in the list!

Kat

flash · Feb 18, 2013

My wife will second Cumin and add Cilantro.

pgsmoker64 · Feb 18, 2013

I think all spices have their place...not sure there is one I particularly dislike. In the right amounts and in the right mixtures they can all be good. I am not overly fond of anise, but again, in the right mixture it can be good.

Bill

diggingdogfarm · Feb 18, 2013

When I was younger, I hated cumin, now I can tolerate it if it's used conservatively.

~Martin

bear55 · Feb 18, 2013

I enjoy cumin, especially in my Mexican dishes, carne asada, machaca beef and of course in chili. It is a pungent spice and getting the amount right can be a challenge at times. I do not believe I would use it as part of a dry rub.

pbjohnsen · Feb 18, 2013

I don't like Cilantro but I love the seeds (coriander). Bay leaf is another dislike.

chef jimmyj · Feb 18, 2013

I am with you on Cumin being used to excessively. There are many blends that use small amounts of Cumin and it is good and leaving it out would change the recipe...Chili and most Indian Cuisine comes to mind...Just a FYI...Allspice is a type of Berry grown in Central, South America and West Indies Islands like Jamaica. It's aroma and taste is reminiscent of Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger and Nutmeg but contains no other spices...JJ

fagesbp · Feb 18, 2013

I don't really like cloves. Star anise isn't my favorite either. If a recipe I'm trying uses them I cut it in half usually.

rstr hunter · Feb 18, 2013

I'm not a huge fan of mace. Most hot dog recipes call for some of this and some sausage recipes do as well. Every time I try it I can taste it right through all the other spices and neither me or my wife will eat it.

smokeusum · Feb 18, 2013

Steve Knight said:
Hello all;

Like many newbies, I've been experimenting with rubs & sauces, and I've found one spice that's on quite a few recipes that I just don't care for:.....

CUMIN

I guess it's just me, but cumin smells like a sweaty old man,.. and if I'm not mistaken, I can smell it in chili powder, and in allspice..

Am I the only one who feels this way?...what spices do you tend to steer clear from?

I said the SAME THING last week. So I did a bit o' research! Cumin adds heat without a pepper taste! It brightens many flavors used in combination with a handful of other spices used commonly for smoking. But mainly, it's the added heat.

I, too, hate the smell! Funny, the base of the word, means good smelling!!!

Leave it out one time, added it the next. You'll be amazed at the flavor; it is not a stand alone spice and after cooking is indistinguishable in your dish, but makes a huge difference!

candycoated · Feb 18, 2013

I don't enjoy allspice or clove in anything. Almond extract isn't a favorite of mine. I really don't like synthetic vanillin, unless it's been blended well (this holds true in perfumery for me too- I'm a bit of a perfumista ;p)

I love cilantro, Chef Julia Child hated it.

One thing I've always wondered, is caraway in coca-cola? I swear it smells like coke classic.

chef jimmyj · Feb 19, 2013

candycoated said:
I don't enjoy allspice or clove in anything. Almond extract isn't a favorite of mine. I really don't like synthetic vanillin, unless it's been blended well (this holds true in perfumery for me too- I'm a bit of a perfumista ;p)

I love cilantro, Chef Julia Child hated it.

One thing I've always wondered, is caraway in coca-cola? I swear it smells like coke classic.

Pure Vanilla, love it. But the artificial stuff is nasty especially in Perfumes and Air Fresheners!

Took me the last 10 years to acquire a taste for Cilantro. I used to threaten my students with a Zero for the day if they couldn't tell the difference between Flat Leaf Parsley and Cilantro, mistakenly garnishing and destroying the flavor of their dishes to be graded with the Cilantro. I now love the flavor, especially in Thai Food.

As far as Caraway in Coke, it is entirely possible as a variety of Spices were available in the average 19th century Pharmacy for use in tinctures and for their perceived medicinal value...JJ

kathrynn · Feb 19, 2013

Cilantro is an acquired taste too. It's a bit heavy sometimes...but can have a citrusy taste too...to me. Another one....that is not a fav for me is Cardamom. Some of the Sam Adams beers have that taste to me...don't like it either.

1beezer · Feb 19, 2013

Steve Knight said:
Hello all;

Like many newbies, I've been experimenting with rubs & sauces, and I've found one spice that's on quite a few recipes that I just don't care for:.....

CUMIN

I guess it's just me, but cumin smells like a sweaty old man,.. and if I'm not mistaken, I can smell it in chili powder, and in allspice..

Am I the only one who feels this way?...what spices do you tend to steer clear from?

Yes it does smell like sweat. That's exactly how I desribe it as well. I always thought gin smelled like Evergreen bushes and eventually found out its made with Juniper.

fagesbp · Feb 21, 2013

I always thought gin tasted like the smell of pledge. Is that the taste of juniper? I never tried it but it was on my list to try, literally on my dry erase board shopping list lol.

kathrynn · Feb 21, 2013

Gin smells like pine trees to me. AND....in making my pastrami...the juniper berries do have a bit of that smell....but I didn't taste that in the pastrami after it was smoked.

humdinger · Feb 21, 2013

Most alcohol history books will say that Gin is essentially the first "flavored Vodka", since it is distilled like Vodka and then herbs are added, predominantly juniper, for flavoring. Next time you are in the liquor aisle/store pick up a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin and look at the sides of the bottle. It lists all the herbs used in making the gin. The best way to begin enjoying gin as a drink is with Squirt. Then segway to Gin and tonics w/ a lime. Very good on a hot day.

My spice to avoid is caraway/star anise/regular anise/fennel, though it is growing on me as I get older and learn to use it properly. When I was 4 years old my mom gave me some rye toast with caraway seeds (unbeknownst to me) and it made me throw up. LOL I didn't trust her for a month after that!!!

Love cumin and cilantro b/c I love mexican food. My wife always doubles the cumin in her guacamole 7-layer bean dip. Mace reminds me of seafood (Old bay seasoning?) which I love so I like that too.

ron forst · Feb 21, 2013

Cant stand Garlic in Sausage, used sparingly in Italian cooking its ok but keep it out of my sausage

Spices you don't like...

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