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It is mainly housewives and gourmets who cannot do without spices during Christmas. Nowadays, only a few people can manage with classical domestic kinds – marjoram, cumin, menthe or parsley. There is a wide range of various and exotic kinds of spices on the market and it is therefore useful to know some basic information.

In principle, consumers can meet with three kinds of products: spices, spice mixes - no additives are usually used during their processing, and seasonings which can also contain salt, vegetables, mushrooms, monosodium glutamate, and other substances. All these ingredients must be stated on the packaging in information about product composition.

It is very important to know the origin of the spices. It is better to buy spices in the shop rather than at a herbwoman. Like this, we always find information about producer, importer or seller on the packaging. Also when buying spices, it is advisable to check the best before date. Spices can be used even after its expiration, but rather such spices that are wrapped in multilayer foils that prevent essentials oils from evaporating. We should not store an excessive amount of spices at home so that they will not loose their aroma in the course of time.

Certain kinds of spices – vanilla beans or ground cinnamon – can be sold in transparent bags by pieces and therefore the label does not have to bear information about the weight of the product.

It is obvious that spices must not contain pests or other undesirable ingredients. Spices should be stored in a dry and dark place so that they will not become mouldy.

More information can be found at www.szpi.gov.cz.