cranberry family, whose distinctive,
refreshing aroma is created mainly by methyl
salicylate.
A Survey of Temperate-Climate
Spices
As is true of herbs, many of our temperate-
climate spices come from just a few plant
families. In the following survey, I group
together spices that are botanically related,
and list the rest in alphabetical order. Tropical
spices are surveyed separately in the next
section.
The Carrot Family
In addition to many leafy herbs, the carrot
family also gives us a number of our favorite
spices. The aromatic “seeds” of plants in the
carrot family are actually small but complete
fruits that are dry rather than fleshy. They are