Which single spice you dislike most?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't 'hate' spices - they all have their uses.

But in my cabinet I have never not once used Fennel Seeds. Even the Cardamom gets used more.

Oh I know.. we all have that one or two or five jars that have a spider net on them hahhaha... kidding.

[Anonymous]

Cloves and nutmeg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has nobody said tumeric?!

Every other spice I enjoy in certain preparations, but I have never enjoyed tumeric. It is supposed to be incredibly healthy for you, so I've tried it a lot. It just has an acrid/bitter quality that makes me feel like the dish is rancid or poison. Blech!

Tumeric tea is delightful.

Aww... yes! I buy raw.. chop it and pour water and add some lemon and sugar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a spice but I hate basil.

I gather you have not one drop of Italian blood in you. Or otherwise you are miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I eat fennel seeds by the handful. Such a great breath freshener! Steeping fennel with mint and ginger also makes a great herbal tea too soothe an upset tummy. But I can understand aversion to fennel, anise, and tarragon if you don't like licorice. Oddly enough, I can't stand licorice, and I'll take a hard pass on tarragon. But fennel and anise don't bother me.

Just a mild suggestion. If you are going to be spending a significant amount of time with someone, you might want to reconsider this. I knew someone who did this, and the fennel smell that she thought was so refreshing was, to put it mildly, not refreshing to those around her. She was a work colleague and whenever she did this, people would fight not to sit near her in meetings. Some people started to avoid her in person and she did not realize any of this. There are quite a lot of people who dislike the fennel/anise smell (as you can see even in this thread). And the smell lingers and does not go away, especially if you are the type that refreshes your breath freshening periodically. She could not smell it, but her office space smelled like stale licorice. It got to the point that several people mentioned it to her boss who had to have the uncomfortable discussion with her to please stop eating fennel seeds at or before work.

Her's was an extreme situation (she loved them), but just letting you know that what you considering refreshing is distasteful to many and may be a problem for people who have to be around you.

OMG!!! What if those two posters above know each other?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I am cilantro convert. For many years I could not STAND the smell, it smelled like female bathroom to me . I kid you not!

and now I would put it in everything and on everything.

Same here, though I still don’t use it much. I used to absolutely hate it, and I had the “tastes like soap” thing going on. But at some point something must have just changed in my brain chemistry, and now I actually kind of like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like most spices including the licorice flavor (though not fennel seeds but more because of mouth feel than flavor) and cumin and curry. Some herbs I don’t like are rosemary and sage - again because of mouth feel. I don’t understand the point of bay leaves.

I grew up in a house where almost the only things added to food were salt (and lots of it) and pepper. I use them now in recipes but not at the table. I have traveled a lot and use many spices/herbs that remind me of places I have been. So for me, it’s acquired, not cultural.

My brother has that genetic aversion to cilantro BTW.

The point of bay leaves.. one of my staple of my spice cabinet is that you add it to dishes and the goodness sips into the dish and
then it smells like it. You only need ONE leaf per gigantic pot. Very easily to overdo with it so this is really something you don't need to worry yourself about, if you did not grow with it and are in need for using it you can live a very happy life without it.

I grew up with it and I can be happy without it just the same. But OMG when I add it.. that tastes like childhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't 'hate' spices - they all have their uses.

But in my cabinet I have never not once used Fennel Seeds. Even the Cardamom gets used more.

Adding cardamom to chocolate chip cookies is divine

Thanks for the tip. I will try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny how so many people say anise and fennel.

I loathe them.

Yes.. what's wrong with us fennel anise haters??? Maybe we miss the "I love fennel and anise" gene?

[Anonymous]

Like many people above, I love *green* cardamom. On the other hand, black cardamom smells like bug spray, basement must, and burnt charcoal had an ungodly spawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 on fennel seeds and anise. Not sure which one I dislike more.

Are caraway seeds the same as fennel? I hate those. And I hate rye bread, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weird how many of you dislike cumin and other spices common to Indian cooking - I think they’re the most wonderful, and they’re also very healthful. It makes me sad how late in life I ‘discovered’ Indian food and cooking.

It really feels like spices build themselves into the person's genetic code and then makes us like them or not. Kind of like a virus if you will.. we have antibodies to some spices and others we are totally exposed .. and hence we hate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Star anise- the flavor just isn't good

Even in pho?

Pho or no Pho it is alwasy pheeeeeew...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 on fennel seeds and anise. Not sure which one I dislike more.

Are caraway seeds the same as fennel? I hate those. And I hate rye bread, too.

NOPE..

caraway seesd = Jewish breads... Jewish spice... and Europe... most of Europe..

this is not only spice but cure for belly aches and regulates digestive system.

All countries that load on heavy to digest dishes like Germans.. they dump
it by handfuls and it is keeping them healthy as you digest easily
and pass gass happily..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dislike cumin and curry.

HATE cilantro if that counts!

Can someone explain what curry spice is? I’ve never come across it before and I’m of Indian origin.