The Major Difference Between Spices And Herbs - Tasting Table

"Herbs are defined, in the culinary sense, as any seasoning that comes from the leaves of a plant. Spices, on the other hand, are made from any of the other parts of the plant, such as seeds, bark, fruits, flowers, roots, and rhizomes."

"The category of spices is obviously the broader of the two, covering a diverse collection of seasonings from many different sources. For example, cumin comes from the seeds of the Cuminum cyminum plant, whereas cinnamon is actually the dried inner bark of any of several trees in the genus Cinnamomum."

"The world's most expensive spice, saffron, is the stigma - female reproductive organ - of a species of crocus. Each flower only produces a few of the thin red tendrils, and the combination of low yield and painstaking harvest is what makes this spice so expensive and so unusual."

Herbs are defined as seasonings derived from the leaves of plants, while spices encompass a wider range of plant parts, including seeds, bark, fruits, flowers, roots, and rhizomes. Examples of spices include cumin from seeds, cinnamon from dried bark, and ginger from roots. Black pepper is the fruit of a vine, and saffron is the stigma of a crocus flower, making it the world's most expensive spice due to its low yield and labor-intensive harvesting process. Herbs are simpler, primarily consisting of plant leaves used for flavoring.

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