The Most Popular Spice Blends of 2022

Spices have long been a crucial part of adding flavour to cuisines around the world, and they remain vitally important today. In 2021, the seasoning and spice market was worth $6.22 billion USD across North America. It is expected to reach $6.48 billion USD in 2022.

Combining ingredients to create rich new spice blends is both an art and a science. These fresh flavour profiles are the key to elevating dishes and food products, as well as exciting taste buds.

Spice blends unlock the potential in cuisine and food products alike! Here at Hela Spice, we expertly layer different aromas, flavours, and notes to produce custom spice blends and best-selling tastes.

This year, spice blends will continue to be a key part of food product development and worldwide cuisines. Here are the most popular spice blends in 2022.

Baharat

Ingredients: Black pepper, coriander seed, paprika, cardamom, nutmeg, cumin seed, cloves, cinnamon

Origin: Middle East

The Arabic word “baharat” quite literally means “spice.” This aromatic spice blend is used in Middle Eastern cuisine. Interestingly, the Turkish and Greeks have their own version of this popular blend!

Baharat is smoky, sweet, and spicy, thanks to its combination of cinnamon, paprika, and black pepper. It’s a great way to add depth and flavour to a wide variety of dishes, such as soups, stews, and grains. Additionally, it is used to season fish and meat as a marinade or dry rub.

Ras el Hanout

Ingredients: Black pepper, white pepper, cinnamon, allspice, anise cloves, ginger, cumin, coriander, cayenne, turmeric, mace

Origin: Morocco

There are endless ways to create ras el hanout. This is because there are no set spices in this fragrant Moroccan blend. In fact, there aren’t even a set number of spices! Ras el hanout can contain anywhere from 8 to 100 spices (although 40 is quite common). In Morocco, it’s blended by the store owner to be unique to their own shop.

In Arabic, ras el hanout means “head of the shop” or “top of the shelf,” referring to its quality and desirability. Although the flavour profile does vary, you can expect an aromatic, warm, sharp, and earthy experience.

Ras el hanout is an excellent choice for marinades and rubs, as well as classic Moroccan dishes like Mrouzia and B’stilla.

Berbere

Ingredients: Cayenne pepper, chiles, paprika, onion powder, ginger, cumin, coriander, cardamom, fenugreek, garlic powder, peppercorn, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves

Origin: Ethiopia

With an assortment of pepper, chiles, paprika, and ginger, berbere earns its name. It means “pepper” or “hot” in the Semetic Amharic language of Eastern Africa. However, berbere’s heat can be very mild depending on how it’s used.

Generally, you can rely on this Ethiopian blend to bring a slightly spicy flavour boost to a variety of dishes. Berbere is incredibly versatile. It works with vegetables and meat, stews and salads, marinades, and condiments.

Garam Masala

Ingredients: Cumin seed, coriander seed, black cardamom, green cardamom, cinnamon, clove, bay leaf, mace, nutmeg, star anise, black pepper, fennel seed

Origin: India

Garam masala is likely one of the most well-known spice blends on this list. It’s a staple in Indian cooking. The name means “hot ingredients,” which makes sense given that this blend is supposed to heat the body.

It has a distinct aroma due to a combination of potent ingredients, such as cardamom, star anise, and coriander. All in all, garam masala is a complex blend with layers of aromas and flavours.

Shichimi Togarashi

Ingredients: Red chilli peppers, sangho (Japanese) peppercorns, roasted satsuma mandarin peel, black and white sesame seeds, hemp seeds, ground ginger, nori

Origin: Japan

Shichimi togarashi is one of the world’s oldest spice blends. It dates back to at least the 17th century in Japan, specifically, in a little fishing village that would become Tokyo. Its name translates to seven (“shichimi”) peppers (“togarashi”). Consequently, you may also know shichimi togarashi as “seven spice powder.”

This Japanese spice mix brings a smoky-sweet heat to dishes. Try using it to flavour soups, soba noodles, tempuras, or grilled fish.

Montreal Steak Spice

Ingredients: Coarse salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, ground coriander, dill seeds

Origin: Canada

This popular Canadian spice blend adds flavour to steaks, burgers, and potatoes. Unlike other spice blends used as marinades or rubs, Montreal steak spice lacks any floral notes. It focuses on heat and saltiness. There are key ingredients in the blend, but different variations do exist.

Jerk Seasoning

Ingredients: Cayenne pepper, Scotch bonnet, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, parsley, paprika, allspice, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, pimento

Origin: Jamaica

Jerk seasoning is the ultimate choice to add rich flavour to your BBQ. This spice blend is used as a rub or marinade on any kind of meat. That being said, you can get experimental with this delicious mix.

For example, try it on grilled vegetables! Jerk’s perfect balance of heat and sweetness can turn any dish into a star.

Unlock Your Flavour Potential With Spice Blends

They say that variety is the spice of life. At Hela Spice, we believe that spice is the flavour of life. Our spice blends marry these two philosophies, combining variety and flavour to create something unique and truly special.

People have been blending spices for as long as they have been cooking. A quick glance around the world shows a rich history of combining spices (and herbs) to make new flavours.

This tradition continues with Hela Spice as we mix seasonings and spices to perfection. Whether you are looking to incorporate traditional profiles or create your own signature flavour, the team at Hela Spice is there to help.

In 2022, spice blends will continue to be a cornerstone of cuisine. African and Indian blends, such as ras el hanout, berbere, and garam masala, offer spice and warmth.

The ancient Japanese blend, shichimi togarashi, and the Middle Eastern baharat bring a smoky-sweet heat to dishes. As well, Canada’s Montreal steak spice and Jamaican’s jerk seasoning are perfect for marinades and rubs.

This year, unlock the flavour potential of your new food product with dynamic spice blends from Hela Spice!

To learn more about our custom spice blending at Hela Spice, visit us at www.helaspice.com or contact us here.