In lively fashion, The Contemporary Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices offers in-depth information on more than 350 herbs, spices, and spice blends. Entries range from familiar favorites like allspice to less familiar choices such as Kaffir limes leaves, and from American blends like Memphis-style dry rubs to more exotic seasonings such as Tunisian five-spice. Defining spice as any part of a plant that adds significant flavor—including seeds, barks, fruits, roots, leaves, stems, resins, flowers, and pods—this encyclopedia covers everything from availability to historical and botanical origins to cooking guidelines, plus more than 75 recipes that bring this colorful culinary world to life. (from the inside flap, description from Amazon.com)