Not only do spices add incredible flavors to our meals, but they also have notable health benefits to them as well. Spice it up this holiday season with a few of our favorite blends!
Just as we enjoy stoking the winter fires, adding warming spices to our meals is like adding natural fuel to our fire. Spices are typically used for the flavor and depth they add to food, but for centuries they have been used for medicinal purposes as well. Many spices are nutrient dense and contain antioxidants and other phytochemicals that can add therapeutic value to our food, helping us live a more healthful life. Because each chile pepper and spice is unique in its nutritional makeup, the more variety you use, the better.
Nutritive Benefits of Capsaicin
The active component that gives chile peppers their heat and lingering tingle is capsaicin, this chemical compound can also provide many surprising health benefits. Recent research found that people who eat capsaicin-dense red chile peppers had lower levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol which lowered the occurrence of deaths from heart disease and stroke! Heart disease can also be caused by obesity — which powerful peppers may help combat. As there are many factors that contribute to weight gain, capsaicin may help boost your metabolism and burn calories faster.
Our tastes buds may be more connected to our gut than we think. After the first bite into a chile pepper, capsaicin binds to brain receptors immediately signaling the sensation of heat from the tongue to the brain. Similarly, when capsaicin enters the digestive tract it also attaches to a receptor. When this happens, a chemical called anandamide is created. Anandamide has been shown to calm down the gastrointestinal tract and lead to less inflammation in the gut. Capsaicin is not a quick fix for chronic illness, but when incorporated into your diet along with other whole foods and daily movement, you may reap the benefits from a spicy life.
Our Unique Variety of Chile Peppers from Oaktown:
When is comes to researching and sourcing the highest quality spices available, Oaktown Spice Shop is our go-to for top quality herbs, spices, chiles, and seasoning blends. The first step taken through their doors is being embraced with pungent and warm aromas of an array of unique spices. We are proud to work with this local Bay Area partner that offers ethically sourced and spices.
Aleppo Chile Pepper
A staple of many Eastern Mediterranean dishes, Aleppo chile pepper has perfectly balanced heat and amazing flavor, oily texture, and bright tartness. Its name derives from its thought place of origin, the city of Aleppo in Northern Syria, although it is also commonly grown in Turkey. Recently this spice has become very popular around the world as an alternative to crushed red pepper flakes or paprika, due to its beautiful deep red color, rich fruity undertones and aromatic flavor.
Kimchi Chile Flakes
Also known as gochugaru, or Korean red chile, these flakes are an essential ingredient in many Korean dishes. It is used in gochujang (Korean chili paste) and kimchi, as well as flavoring agent in Korean soups and stews like kimchi-jjigae. Though it has a really rich and fruity flavor, the heat level of this red chile is fairly minimal.
Kashmiri Chile
A staple of the Indian kitchen, Kashmiri chiles originate from Kashmir, in the north of India. This bright red powder brings a vibrant color, slightly smoky flavor and moderate heat. Utilized in recipes like our Vadouvan Curry, this powder is used in recipes that benefit from a boost of color but don’t want any extra heat.
Cubeb Pepper
Sometimes referred to as Java pepper due to its Indonesian origin, cubeb pepper has a mild peppery flavor with a lovely aromatic floral quality and no real pepper heat. We utilize this unique pepper in our Ras el Hanout blend, which translates to “Head of the Shop.” This spice blend is an intricate mix of over 20 ingredients combining the best of everything, a blend truly fit for a king.
Guajillo Chile
Dried from a Mirasol chile, Guajillo chiles have a sweet heat and are widely used in Mexico as a base for rich salsas and sauces. It has amazing layers of flavor with a little heat and some fruity and smoky notes. We incorporate this popular pepper into recipes to add a complex fruity flavor with little burn.
Spices allow us to be creative and adventurous with cooking and, best of all, they prevent another bland meal. By using unique and unusual chile peppers and spices, we are granted an opportunity to experiment with new cuisine types and flavor profiles, to learn about different cultures and their history, and to expand our understanding of what makes regional foods special. By improving the nutrients in our food with each sprinkle, spices help leave us feeling light and bright after meals during these cold months.
Not only do spices add incredible flavors to our meals, but they also have notable health benefits to them as well. Spice it up this holiday season with a few of our favorite blends!
Just as we enjoy stoking the winter fires, adding warming spices to our meals is like adding natural fuel to our fire. Spices are typically used for the flavor and depth they add to food, but for centuries they have been used for medicinal purposes as well. Many spices are nutrient dense and contain antioxidants and other phytochemicals that can add therapeutic value to our food, helping us live a more healthful life. Because each chile pepper and spice is unique in its nutritional makeup, the more variety you use, the better.
Nutritive Benefits of Capsaicin
The active component that gives chile peppers their heat and lingering tingle is capsaicin, this chemical compound can also provide many surprising health benefits. Recent research found that people who eat capsaicin-dense red chile peppers had lower levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol which lowered the occurrence of deaths from heart disease and stroke! Heart disease can also be caused by obesity — which powerful peppers may help combat. As there are many factors that contribute to weight gain, capsaicin may help boost your metabolism and burn calories faster.
Our tastes buds may be more connected to our gut than we think. After the first bite into a chile pepper, capsaicin binds to brain receptors immediately signaling the sensation of heat from the tongue to the brain. Similarly, when capsaicin enters the digestive tract it also attaches to a receptor. When this happens, a chemical called anandamide is created. Anandamide has been shown to calm down the gastrointestinal tract and lead to less inflammation in the gut. Capsaicin is not a quick fix for chronic illness, but when incorporated into your diet along with other whole foods and daily movement, you may reap the benefits from a spicy life.
Our Unique Variety of Chile Peppers from Oaktown:
When is comes to researching and sourcing the highest quality spices available, Oaktown Spice Shop is our go-to for top quality herbs, spices, chiles, and seasoning blends. The first step taken through their doors is being embraced with pungent and warm aromas of an array of unique spices. We are proud to work with this local Bay Area partner that offers ethically sourced and spices.
Aleppo Chile Pepper
A staple of many Eastern Mediterranean dishes, Aleppo chile pepper has perfectly balanced heat and amazing flavor, oily texture, and bright tartness. Its name derives from its thought place of origin, the city of Aleppo in Northern Syria, although it is also commonly grown in Turkey. Recently this spice has become very popular around the world as an alternative to crushed red pepper flakes or paprika, due to its beautiful deep red color, rich fruity undertones and aromatic flavor.
Kimchi Chile Flakes
Also known as gochugaru, or Korean red chile, these flakes are an essential ingredient in many Korean dishes. It is used in gochujang (Korean chili paste) and kimchi, as well as flavoring agent in Korean soups and stews like kimchi-jjigae. Though it has a really rich and fruity flavor, the heat level of this red chile is fairly minimal.
Kashmiri Chile
A staple of the Indian kitchen, Kashmiri chiles originate from Kashmir, in the north of India. This bright red powder brings a vibrant color, slightly smoky flavor and moderate heat. Utilized in recipes like our Vadouvan Curry, this powder is used in recipes that benefit from a boost of color but don’t want any extra heat.
Cubeb Pepper
Sometimes referred to as Java pepper due to its Indonesian origin, cubeb pepper has a mild peppery flavor with a lovely aromatic floral quality and no real pepper heat. We utilize this unique pepper in our Ras el Hanout blend, which translates to “Head of the Shop.” This spice blend is an intricate mix of over 20 ingredients combining the best of everything, a blend truly fit for a king.
Guajillo Chile
Dried from a Mirasol chile, Guajillo chiles have a sweet heat and are widely used in Mexico as a base for rich salsas and sauces. It has amazing layers of flavor with a little heat and some fruity and smoky notes. We incorporate this popular pepper into recipes to add a complex fruity flavor with little burn.
Spices allow us to be creative and adventurous with cooking and, best of all, they prevent another bland meal. By using unique and unusual chile peppers and spices, we are granted an opportunity to experiment with new cuisine types and flavor profiles, to learn about different cultures and their history, and to expand our understanding of what makes regional foods special. By improving the nutrients in our food with each sprinkle, spices help leave us feeling light and bright after meals during these cold months.
